Formal and Informal Relationships in the Government Branches

Executive Branch
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November 12, 2020
Understanding both the formal and informal relationships between the different branches of the government is essential for any student. It allows him to be able to appreciate the complex dynamics between these co-equal branches as well as how it helps in the preservation of the democratic process. In this article, the author would like to focus on the Executive branch’s role in some of the recent political events in the United States such as the confirmation of the new chief justice, the presidential elections, and the new legislature. Specifically, he would like to focus on how formal structures and processes related to the informal dynamics between the three branches. All in all, the author believes that although all three branches are supposed to be co-equal and independent among one another (in terms of internal affairs), the Executive plays a huge role in each of these events.
The Executive’s Roles
One of the significant roles that the executive department has played recently is in line with the confirmation of the new Chief Justice. Formally, the United States’ Constitution limits the President’s capacity to the appointment of several positions of the Judiciary, whereas it is the legislature who votes for its confirmation. This is to limit the Presidential influence upon the judicial department, which embraces the principle of the separation of powers. However, despite the checks-and-balances provided by these processes, a closer examination of the informal dynamics of this political process would show that the Executive would still have a considerable influence in the new Chief justice. This is because even though it is the legislature that acts on his confirmation, it is the President who appointed him in the first place usually based on the similarity of their political inclinations, ideologies, and beliefs.
Another time when the executive department played a considerable role was during the recent legislative elections. Although the legislature is elected by popular vote, which means that they are usually comprised of individuals with diverse political ideologies, the President has a significant influence on the agenda and the processes of the legislature. Specifically, it could be se...