How Government Works

The U.S. federal government is structured around three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—each with distinct powers designed to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful. Congress makes the laws, the President enforces them, and the courts interpret them. This system of checks and balances means that while one branch can initiate action, another can block it, modify it, or override it.

Congress’s Power Over Money and Policy

Congress controls the nation’s purse strings, shaping federal operations through appropriations. Congress decides how to fund federal agencies, and these funding decisions have enormous consequences. Congress uses its appropriations power strategically through policy demands attached to spending bills and short-term funding arrangements.

When Government Funding Stops

When Congress fails to pass spending bills, the government can shut down. The Antideficiency Act, a law from 1884, governs how federal operations halt during shutdowns. Shutdowns follow a hierarchy: certain federal services stop first, while shutdowns affect federal workers and benefit recipients.

Presidential Power: Granted and Limited

The President’s authority often flows from Congress. While Congress has granted Presidents emergency economic powers through a 1977 law, Congress can block presidential emergency declarations. Courts can strike down executive orders that exceed constitutional authority.