Welcome to the Kazi Law Firm! We are a boutique law firm steeped in Texas tradition personifying the warmth and congeniality consistent with southern hospitality. We believe in preserving integrity and professionalism with true Texan charm, staying true to our roots, while providing essential, affordable legal services to all. Located just north of Dallas, Texas in the rapidly growing suburb of Frisco; the Kazi Law Firm concentrates on contracts drafting and review, wills & estate planning, real estate law, landlord, tenant, mediation, and general business law needs.
Happy Election Day, everyone! Today we will make history in a passionate, highly anticipated, and pivotal election year – 2020! What a year it has been with Covid-19’s unfortunate death-grip around the world, an overactive hurricane season, the loss a of judicial titan like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and a divisive nation, where much confusion lies in understanding our great democracy through its various branches. I think it’s critical to discuss the different braches of the US government and how they work together to shape our political landscape.
Branches of the Federal Government
Our federal government has three parts that all work together to maintain checks and balances of power. They are the Executive branch, (President and about 5,000,000 workers), the Legislative branch (Senate and House of Representatives), and the Judicial branch (Supreme Court and lower Courts). Simply put, the Legislative makes laws, the Executive carries out the laws, and the Judicial evaluates those laws.
Executive Branch
The President of the United States administers the Executive Branch of our government. The President enforces the laws that the Legislative Branch (Congress) makes. The President is elected by United States citizens, 18 years of age and older, who vote in the presidential elections in their states. These votes are tallied by states and form the Electoral College system. States have a number of electoral votes which equals the number of senators and representatives they have. It is possible to have the most popular votes throughout the nation and NOT win the electoral vote of the Electoral College.
Legislative Branch
The Legislative part of our government is called Congress. Congress makes our laws. Congress is divided into two parts. One part is called the Senate. There are 100 Senators–2 from each of our states. The other part is called the House of Representatives. Representatives meet together to discuss ideas and decide if these ideas (bills) should become laws. There are currently 435 Representatives. The number of representatives each state gets is determined by its population. Some states have just 2 representatives. Others have as many as 40. Both senators and representatives are elected by the eligible voters in their respective states.
Judicial Branch
The Judicial part of our federal government includes the Supreme Court and 9 Justices. They are special judges who interpret laws according to the Constitution. These justices only hear cases that pertain to issues related to the Constitution. They are the highest court in our country. The federal judicial system also has lower courts located in each state to hear cases involving federal issues.
Checks & Balances
As mentioned above, the United States Constitution divided the government into three branches because it gave specific powers to each branch and set up something called “checks and balances.” Just like the phrase sounds, the point of checks and balances was to make sure no one branch would be able to control too much power, and thus, it created a separation of powers.
For example, the legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto. Similarly, the legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional. The executive branch, through the Federal agencies, has responsibility for day-to-day enforcement and administration of Federal laws. These federal departments and agencies have missions and responsibilities that vary widely, from environmental protection to protecting the nation’s borders. The President in the executive branch can veto a law, but the legislative branch can override that veto with enough votes.
Other examples include, the legislative branch has the power to approve Presidential nominations, control the budget, and can impeach the President, and remove him or her from office. The executive branch can declare Executive Orders, which are like proclamations that carry the force of law, but the judicial branch can declare those acts unconstitutional. The judicial branch interprets laws, but the Senate in the legislative branch confirms the President’s nominations for judicial positions, and Congress can impeach any of those judges and remove them from office. Do you see how no one branch has complete or absolute power in our federal government? The founding fathers wanted to ensure that there were checks and balances in place so that no one branch could reign supreme, without the oversight of another governing body.
I think it’s imperative to emphasize that voting is our civic duty and we are fortunate enough to live in a nation where our voice can be heard. Every vote counts and each voice deserves to be heard. There is no excuse to not vote today and be part of the political process that makes our incredible nation the land of opportunity that it is. We live in the greatest country in the world. Whether, you are voting red or blue today, please remember that we are all Americans. We are united as brothers and sisters and our joint love for the United States is what binds us together, irrespective of our political preference. Our love and loyalty for the land of the free and the home of the brave is our greatest gift. Vote today and take part in the liberties afforded to us by our founding fathers.
I built my law practice on the premise of being a life raft in a sea of sharks. I want to be an advocate for those that have been wronged and are too intimidated to seek help. My firm is here to explore your options, guide you through your legal journey, and give you that safe space to ask questions! There’s no such thing as a stupid question…Only the ones you don’t ask. So, my question to my clients is not “do you have any questions?” But rather “what questions do you have?”
As always, the Kazi Law Firm is standing by to help you in your time of need. Don’t hesitate to contact us today. We specialize in real estate law, landlord-tenant disputes, immigration, and wills & estate planning. Family is at the core of our practice. Just as we treat our family with respect and understanding, we treat yours. Come join the Kazi Law Firm family today!
Why swim alone in shark-infested waters when you don’t need to?
