The United States Government is divided into three separate branches, often referred to as the Separation of Powers. The Constitution, which is considered the supreme law of the land, designates various powers to the different branches of government. The Legislative branch, known as Congress, is responsible for making the laws. There are two chambers of Congress, made up of 100 senators and 435 representatives of the House. The Executive branch, which is led by the President, Vice President, and the Cabinet carries out the laws. The 46 members of the Cabinet are considered some of the president’s closest advisors, such as Pete Buttigieg who has been chosen as President-Elect Biden’s Secretary of Transportation. The Judicial branch, the nine justices of the Supreme Court, interpret the laws.
Was the United States Government built so that anyone could run for office? An article by the Boston Globe says that, “Activists argue campaigns require candidates to work long nights and weekend hours… and that expensive child care creates a barrier of entry for aspiring politicians who don’t have unlimited money to pay for care on their own. Without changes to campaign finance law, they (Activists) say, those who run for office will always be those who can afford to do so — disproportionately male and privileged….” This statement makes a strong argument for how the cost of campaigning affects politicians differently depending on their identifiers. For example, former Representative Patrick J. Kennedy, the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, has the benefit of not only being wealthy and from a strikingly powerful political family but the privilege that comes with being a white male in American society. Evidently, in the 1790 census only white, land-owning (middle class and above) men could have a voice in any election. This blocked out the possibility that people of color, white women, and the poor could yield any power in their government. For over two centuries, America’s leading social construct has been that “white is superior to all other races.” The foundation of our society was built on the Confederate beliefs of wanting to preserve slavery. Ten out of the first twelve presidents enslaved others including George Washington, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson who owned over 600 people. Discrimination was written into our society along with the Constitution. Discrimination against identifiers that were deemed unfavorable, be it race, religion, sex, or sexuality. In America, the intolerance of difference was built into every system from government to criminal justice, education, healthcare, and employment. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’s gain of office is monumental in our history.
On January 20th of 2021, the remarkable Kamala Harris will be elected as the 1st woman of color to be Vice President. The former Attorney General of California has defied and fought every barrier history has placed in front of her. Her inauguration will be a monumental moment of hope, change, and good in our society. As Harris once said, “My mother had a saying: Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.”
