Laws may pursue form over function. Case in point is the fact that some states even have adopted state cats (although an examination of state symbol law reveals that many states have adopted a litany of âstate symbols,â including dance, food, insect, and drink). For example, the official Maine cat is, of course, the Maine coon cat. 1 M.R.S.A. Â§ 217.
The Constitution of the United States established Americaâs national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
Article 1 of the United States Constitution grants Congress its powers. It is primarily intended to be a legislative body of a three-branch system that shares equal power. Congress is the only branch of government that can make or change laws. The executive branch of the government is led by the President, while the Supreme Court is at the top of the judicial branch of government. To form a system of checks and balances, it is necessary for Congress to have some non-legislative powers. These powers help the government organize in the event that one branch attempts to exercise too much influence over the others.