Tuesday is almost here. We are excited to release a video of some of our favorite Iranian Americans talking about why it’s important to vote. Please help us thank those that participated by voting tomorrow.
If you have time, please review the interviews of candidates on this site that provided a direct message to the Iranian American community – links below.
The Constitution of the United States has 3 branches of government. We’ve provided some information below to help explain the important role each plays. This is a system of checks and balances. Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
- Drafts proposed laws
- Confirms or rejects presidential nominations for heads of federal agencies, federal judges and the Supreme Court
- Has the authority to declare war
- It includes Congress
Congress is divided into two chambers:
Senate
- 2 Senators per each state – total of 100 Senators.
- One term is 6 years and there is no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.
- Every 2 years one third of Senators are up for election
- Chaired by VP and VP has the power to vote to break a tie
- Have to be at least 30 years old and lived in the US for min of 9 years
- Confirmation of Presidential appointments – if the president does not get the majority of the votes of the senate, his nominees will not be appointed.
- With a 2/3 vote, the Senate has the power to ratify or reject treaties that were negotiated by the President
- The Senate is the only house assisting the President in foreign policy including decisions concerning the initiation or the ending of a war.
House of Representatives
- There are 435 elected Representatives – they are divided among 50 states in proportion of their population.
- They serve a 2 year term and there is no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.
- The House has no say in the appointment of ambassadors, federal judges and cabinet members
- House has the sole Power of Impeachment
- Headed by the Speaker of the House
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
- President – head of state, leader of the federal government, and Commander in Chief of the US Armed Services.
- Serve a 4 year term and can be elected no more than 2 times.
- Vice President – This position supports the President and if the President is unable to serve, the VP becomes President.
- Cabinet – cabinet members are advisors to the president. They include the VP, heads of executive departments, and other high-ranking officials. Cabinet members are nominated by the President and must be approved by a simple majority of the Senate – 51 votes if all 100 Senators vote.
JUDICIAL BRANCH
- This branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases and decides if laws violate the constitution.
- Supreme Court – this is the highest court in US. The Justices are nominated by the President and must be approved by the Senate.
- If there is an even number of Justices and a case results in a tie, the lower court’s decision stands.
- There is not fixed term for Justices. They serve until their death, retirement or removal in exceptional circumstances.
- Other Federal Courts – Constitution gives Congress the authority to establish other federal courts to handle cases that involve federal laws – tax and bankruptcy, lawsuits involving US and state governments or the Constitution.
