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Federal government of the United States: Difference between revisions
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The United States government is based on the principles of [[Federalism in the United States|federalism]] and [[Republicanism in the United States|republicanism]], in which power is shared between the federal government and [[State governments of the United States|state governments]]. The interpretation and execution of these principles, including what powers the federal government should have and how those powers can be exercised, have been debated ever since the adoption of the Constitution. Some make a case for expansive federal powers while others argue for a more limited role for the central government in relation to individuals, the states, or other recognized entities. | The United States government is based on the principles of [[Federalism in the United States|federalism]] and [[Republicanism in the United States|republicanism]], in which power is shared between the federal government and [[State governments of the United States|state governments]]. The interpretation and execution of these principles, including what powers the federal government should have and how those powers can be exercised, have been debated ever since the adoption of the Constitution. Some make a case for expansive federal powers while others argue for a more limited role for the central government in relation to individuals, the states, or other recognized entities. | ||
Since the | Since the American Civil War, the powers of the federal government have generally expanded greatly, although there have been periods since that time of legislative branch dominance (e.g., the decades immediately following the Civil War) or when [[states' rights]] proponents have succeeded in limiting federal power through legislative action, executive prerogative or by a constitutional interpretation by the courts.<ref>{{Cite journal |jstor = 3038511|title = The Influence of State Politics in Expanding Federal Power|journal = Proceedings of the American Political Science Association|volume = 5|pages = 53–63|last1 = Ford|first1 = Henry Jones|year = 1908|doi = 10.2307/3038511}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ngaus.org/index.asp?downloadid=166 Judge Rules Favorably in Pennsylvania BRAC Suit (Associated Press, August 26)]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | ||
One of the theoretical pillars of the U.S. Constitution is the idea of "[[Separation of powers#Checks and balances|checks and balances]]" among the powers and responsibilities of the three branches of American government: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. For example, while the legislative branch ([[U.S. Congress|Congress]]) has the power to create law, the executive branch under the [[U.S. President|president]] can [[Veto power in the United States|veto]] any legislation—an act which, in turn, can be overridden by Congress.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/our-government/legislative-branch |title=The Legislative Branch |access-date=January 20, 2013 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129230714/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/the-legislative-branch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The president nominates judges to the nation's highest judiciary authority, the [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] (as well as to lower federal courts), but those nominees must be approved by Congress. The Supreme Court, in turn, [[Judicial review in the United States|can invalidate]] unconstitutional laws passed by the Congress. | One of the theoretical pillars of the U.S. Constitution is the idea of "[[Separation of powers#Checks and balances|checks and balances]]" among the powers and responsibilities of the three branches of American government: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. For example, while the legislative branch ([[U.S. Congress|Congress]]) has the power to create law, the executive branch under the [[U.S. President|president]] can [[Veto power in the United States|veto]] any legislation—an act which, in turn, can be overridden by Congress.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/our-government/legislative-branch |title=The Legislative Branch |access-date=January 20, 2013 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129230714/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/the-legislative-branch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The president nominates judges to the nation's highest judiciary authority, the [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] (as well as to lower federal courts), but those nominees must be approved by Congress. The Supreme Court, in turn, [[Judicial review in the United States|can invalidate]] unconstitutional laws passed by the Congress. | ||
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[[File:Federal Revenue and Spending.png|thumb|upright=1|Federal revenue and spending of the U.S. federal government as of 2021]] | [[File:Federal Revenue and Spending.png|thumb|upright=1|Federal revenue and spending of the U.S. federal government as of 2021]] | ||
[[File:Federal debt to Federal revenue ratio.webp|thumb|upright=1|The [[financial ratio]] of federal debt to federal revenue from 1996 through 2022]] | [[File:Federal debt to Federal revenue ratio.webp|thumb|upright=1|The [[financial ratio]] of federal debt to federal revenue from 1996 through 2022]] | ||
The budget document often begins with the [[President of the United States|president]]'s proposal to [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] recommending funding levels for the next | The budget document often begins with the [[President of the United States|president]]'s proposal to [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] recommending funding levels for the next fiscal year, beginning October 1 and ending on September 30 of the year following. The fiscal year refers to the year in which it ends. | ||
For fiscal year (FY) 2018, the federal government spent $4.11 trillion. Spending equaled 20.3% of [[gross domestic product]] (GDP), equal to the 50-year average.<ref name="CBO_Nov182">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbo.gov/publication/54647 |title=CBO Monthly Budget Review-November 2018 |date=November 7, 2018 |access-date=December 6, 2018 |archive-date=December 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205194634/https://www.cbo.gov/publication/54647 |url-status=live }}</ref> The deficit equaled $779 billion, 3.8 percent of GDP. Tax revenue amounted to $3.33 trillion, with receipt categories including individual income taxes ($1,684B or 51%), Social Security/Social Insurance taxes ($1,171B or 35%), and corporate taxes ($205B or 6%).<ref name="CBO_Nov182"/> | For fiscal year (FY) 2018, the federal government spent $4.11 trillion. Spending equaled 20.3% of [[gross domestic product]] (GDP), equal to the 50-year average.<ref name="CBO_Nov182">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbo.gov/publication/54647 |title=CBO Monthly Budget Review-November 2018 |date=November 7, 2018 |access-date=December 6, 2018 |archive-date=December 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205194634/https://www.cbo.gov/publication/54647 |url-status=live }}</ref> The deficit equaled $779 billion, 3.8 percent of GDP. Tax revenue amounted to $3.33 trillion, with receipt categories including individual income taxes ($1,684B or 51%), Social Security/Social Insurance taxes ($1,171B or 35%), and corporate taxes ($205B or 6%).<ref name="CBO_Nov182"/> | ||