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Hi, I’m Alexander Hamilton.
Meet the fellow framers of the Constitution.
No, no – not them… these guys.
As you know, we’ve got our work cut out for us.
This document we’re writing is a big deal. It’s going to be the foundation on which
our nation will be run for centuries to come…
… so we’d better make it a good one. One of our foremost goals is to create a system
of checks and balances. We’ve had some… not-so-great experiences
with the British king and parliament…
…and we don’t exactly want to follow in their tyrannical footsteps.
In our opinion, having all the power in the hands of only a few is an epic fail.
So we’re setting out to create a system of government where no individual or institution
can acquire tyrannical power. We’re dividing everything up into three
branches…
Legislative…
…Executive…
…and Judicial. No one branch holds more power than the others…
… so they can keep tabs on each other and make sure nobody gets out of line.
The Legislative and Executive branches can also help the Supreme Court when one of the
Justices needs to cross the street. The Legislative branch consists of the House
of Representatives and the Senate… i.e. Congress.
It’s their job to vote on laws, or pieces of legislation.
The Executive branch means the President and Vice-President…
…but also cabinet members, like the Secretary of… well, just about everything.
Education, Agriculture, Transportation, and so on.
If you’re going to be a secretary, this is the kind of secretary to be.
You’ll get at least an extra zero or two on your paycheck.
Finally, you’ve got the Judicial branch.
Here, we’ve got the Supreme Court, which oversees all court systems in the entire country.
The Supreme Court trumps all decisions made by other courts…
…so they can basically swoop in and say, “Aw, heck no!”
And then write their own decision that they feel is more just.
It is the Supreme Court’s job to correctly interpret, enforce and judge important course
cases according to the laws of the land…
…some of which have just been drawn up by the President…
…and put in place by Congress…
See how everything comes full circle? Well, I’d better get back to work.
Benji’s getting antsy. That guy does not believe in taking breaks.
Good thing we’re not making him President.