Britannica Student Encyclopedia - 2010

has the most members in the House—

called the majority party—chooses the

speaker. The Senate leader is called the

president of the Senate. The vice

president of the United States serves as

president of the Senate but votes only

to break a tie. A senator called the

president pro tempore leads the Senate

U.S. senators and representatives gather in

the chamber, or meeting room, of the House

of Representatives to hear a foreign leader

speak.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA United States Government 33

 

when the vice president is absent. The

majority party in the Senate chooses the

president pro tempore.

How Congress Makes Laws

A new law starts out as a document

called a bill. First a member of the

House or the Senate introduces a bill.

Then it goes to a small group of

representatives or senators called a

committee. There are many

committees. Committees have the

power to make changes in bills. They

also decide which bills the whole House

or Senate will vote on.

Once the bill is ready, the House or the

Senate votes on it. If more than half of

the members who vote on a bill approve

it, the bill passes, or gets approved. It

then goes to the other house for

approval. In order to become a law, a bill

must be passed by both houses.

A bill passed by both houses goes to the

president of the United States. If the

president signs the bill, it becomes a law.

However, the president can veto, or

reject, a bill. A vetoed bill can still

become a law, however. This happens if

two thirds of both houses of Congress

vote to override, or undo, the veto.

Executive Branch

The executive branch puts into use the

laws that the legislative branch makes.

The president of the United States leads

the executive branch.

The President

Presidents serve four-year terms. Since

1951 presidents have been limited to

two terms. The vice president takes over

if the president dies, gives up the job, or

is unable to serve.

A group called the electoral college elects

the president and the vice president

every four years. Voters in a national

election tell the electoral college members

from their state how to vote.

Congress can accuse the president of

breaking the law. This is called

impeachment. The Senate decides

whether the president is guilty. A guilty

president must resign, or step down.

Congress has impeached two

presidents—Andrew Johnson and Bill

Clinton—but the Senate found them

both not guilty.

Executive Power

The president decides what the

government should do. This is called

making policy. A part of making policy

is recommending laws for Congress to

pass. Another part is dealing with

foreign countries. As commander in

A member of

Congress

introduces a

bill by dropping

it into a

box called the

hopper.

The Oval Office in the White House is the

workplace of the president of the United

States.

34 United States Government BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

chief of the armed forces, the president

can send soldiers into battle in foreign

countries. However, only Congress may

declare war.

The president also oversees the departments

and government agencies that are

part of the executive branch. These

groups carry out laws and policies of all

kinds.

After the Department of Homeland

Security was created in 2002, there were

15 departments in all. The president

appoints their leaders. The leaders form

a group that is called the Cabinet. The

Cabinet gives advice to the President.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch, or judiciary, is a

system of courts. Officials called judges

run the courts. The courts use the U.S.

Constitution and other laws of the U.S.

government to settle cases.

The president of the United States

appoints all federal judges, but the Senate

must approve them. Once approved,

the judges serve until death or retirement.

Federal judges, like presidents,

can be impeached.

Lower Courts

The district courts are the lowest level of

U.S. courts. District court trials usually

Executive Departments

Department Important Duties

Department of Agriculture Helps farmers; works to improve farming

Department of Commerce Works to protect businesses; carries out census

Department of Defense Oversees the armed forces

Department of Education Works to improve education

Department of Energy Manages the use of energy, including

nuclear energy and fossil fuels

Department of Health and Oversees social security programs;

Human Services ensures that food and drugs are safe

Department of Homeland Security Works to prevent terrorism in the United States and

protect national borders

Department of Housing and Works to improve housing and public areas of cities

Urban Development

Department of the Interior Oversees national parks and Native American affairs

Department of Justice Fights crime; oversees national prisons

Department of Labor Carries out laws that protect workers

Department of State Deals with foreign countries; protects U.S. citizens

outside the United States

Department of Transportation Works to keep highway, railroad, and airplane travel

safe and well organized

Department of the Treasury Collects taxes; pays the government’s bills; prints money