# data[].attributes.body
Purpose/Function/Structure of Branch
* Each state has two U.S. Senators and at least one U.S. Representative
*The more residents a state has, the more U.S. Representatives it is allowed.
* House of representative and Senate are the two houses involved

Separation of powers
*declares war
* regulates interstate
*foreign commerce
*controls taxing
*spending policies.

Checks and balances
*presidential nominations
*control the budget
*can impeach the President and remove him or her from office.

*The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto.

*The legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional.

Leaders of the branch
* Speaker- The Speaker acts as the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.
-Every two years, before the start of a new Congress, each party selects a candidate for the position
- The Speaker also serves as the administrative head of the House
-On top of these duties, the Speaker is also second in the line of succession to the presidency, after the Vice President.

*Majority- Elected every two years in secret balloting during the party caucus or conference, the majority leader’s role begins on the first day of the Congress.
-The majority leader is responsible for keeping legislation moving and uniting the majority party.
-They schedule legislation for consideration on the House floor, and plan daily, weekly, and annual legislative agendas.
-Also Consults with Members to determine party member’s opinions on issues and legislation.

*Minority leader- The minority leader serves as the floor leader to the “loyal opposition”
- the minority counterpart to the Speaker of the House.
-The minority leader speaks for the minority party and its policies, works to protect the minority’s rights
- nominates or appoints minority party Members to serve on certain standing committees.

*Who reprsents Colorado
- House and Senate- Micheal bennet
-senate democrat, john hickenlooper senate and democrat
House representative
Colorado House of Representatives
Speaker Julie McCluskie (D) since January 9, 2023
Speaker pro tempore Chris Kennedy (D) since January 9, 2023
Majority Leader Monica Duran (D) since January 9, 2023
Minority Leader Mike Lynch (R) since January 9, 2023

# data[].attributes.body
Purpose and function:
-Decides constitutionality of laws, resolves disputes over federal laws
-Judges depend on executive branch to enforce court decisions

Structure of the branch:
-Supreme court on top
-Below is the court of appeals
-Below is district courts
-Bankruptcy courts
-Article 1 courts

Separation of powers:
-Hearing civil cases
-Protection of individual rights
-Determine guilt or innocence of those accused of violating criminal laws
-Acting as a check of executive and legislative branches

Checks and balances:
-Legislative and Judicial: legislative has control of appropriations of operation of federal court system; judicial can declare laws legislative makes unconstitutional
-Judicial and Executive: Executive has right to nominate judges and nominate to remove judges for unconstitutional acts; judicial has right to control amount of justices on the court and veto President's appointment of judges

Leaders of the branch:
-All the justices on the court: John Roberts Jr (chief justice), Clarence Thomas (associate justice), Samuel Alito Jr (associate justice), Sonia Sotomayor (associate justice), Elena Kagan (Associate justice), Neil M. Gorsuch (associate justice), Brett Kavanaugh (associate justice), Amy Coney Barrett (associate justice), Ketanji Brown Jackson (associate justice)

Current events:
-Roe V Wade continual debate
-Department of Education V Brown: student loan borrowers lack standing to challenge lawfulness of a loan forgiveness plan enacted by Secretary of Education under the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students

# data[].attributes.body
Purpose and function:
-Enforce laws
-Consists of president, his/her advisors, and various departments and agencies
-Appointing judges, ambassadors, and cabinet officials
-Veto and approve law proposals

Structure:
-The branch is organized with the president in control, the vice president below him, and all advisors after that

Qualifications:
-President and vice president must be 35 years old and a natural born citizen of the United States, and must have lived in US for 14 years

Separation of powers:
-Executive branch enforces law, legislative makes the law, and judicial interprets the law
-Commander in chief has full power to declare war

Checks and balances:
-Legislative and Executive: The executive branch can veto a law, but the legislative can override the veto with enough votes; legislative branch has power to approve presidential nominations, control budget, and can impeach/remove president from office
-Judicial and Executive: judicial can declare acts of president unconstitutional; executive can nominate justices on Supreme Court

Leaders of the branch:
-President and Vice President are top positions

Current event:
-Joe Biden possible impeachment due to potential involvement with Hunter Biden's business and files found on Ukraine business deals
-Trump indicted for involvement in January 6th capitol riots, as well as other crimes committed before, during, and after his time in office