Legislative Branch

Legislative—Makes laws (Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate) Executive—Carries out laws (president, vice president, Cabinet, most federal agencies) Judicial—Evaluates laws (Supreme Court and other courts)

The second, federalism, apportions power between two levels of government: national and subnational. In the United States, the term federal government refers to the government at the national level, while the term states means governments at the subnational level.

The president

How does the Constitution limit the power of the president as commander in chief? It grants power to declare war to Congress.

As commander-in-chief, he is authorized to direct the movements of the naval and military forces placed by law at his command, and to employ them in the manner he may deem most effectual to harass and conquer and subdue the enemy.

The Constitution makes the president commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States. Congress provides an important limitation on the president’s role as commander in chief. Congress retains the power to declare war, as well as the power to provide the funds to pay for the military.

What is the President’s role as Commander in Chief? The Constitution makes the President the commander in chief, giving him or her complete control of the nation’s armed forces.

In law, a commutation is the substitution of a lesser penalty for that given after a conviction for a crime. Unlike most pardons by government and overturning by the court (a full overturning is equal to an acquittal), a commutation does not affect the status of a defendant’s underlying criminal conviction.

Pardon – A pardon is a complete forgiveness and restores full rights of citizenship. But a pardon restores those rights. Those pardoned can apply to be expunged, and be able to say that you were not convicted of a crime. Reprieve – A reprieve is a delay or temporary suspension of punishment.

While a pardon deletes a conviction, a commutation keeps the conviction but deletes or lowers the punishment. The conviction stays on the record, and the person who receives the commutation does have any rights restored.

A very real distinction exists between an expungement and a pardon. When an expungement is granted, the person whose record is expunged may, for most purposes, treat the event as if it never occurred. A pardon (also called “executive clemency”) does not “erase” the event; rather, it constitutes forgiveness.

A pardon is not required to restore the right to vote The right to vote is automatically restored to a felon once he or she is released from prison and successfully discharged from California parole.