Where Does Science Fit in Each of the 3 Branches of US Government?

By Sheeva Azma

Scientists based in the United States: how much do you know about the role of science in governance? Perhaps you know, for starters, that there are three branches of government here in the US: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

The Founding Fathers who wrote the Constitution wanted to ensure that no branch would have too much power, so they set up a system of “checks and balances” in which each branch could keep the others in check in various ways. For example, people elect both Congress (legislative branch) and the President (executive), but the Supreme Court (judicial) is appointed by the President, and confirmed by the Senate. The President cannot write laws, since that’s Congress’s job, but they can use Executive Orders to make things happen. The Supreme Court can deem things unconstitutional, but these things can be codified back into law with a Congressional vote.

The Founding Fathers did not really have any clue what scientific and technological advances would ensure after they wrote the Constitution. As a result, people are left to figure it all out. For example, with the advent of popular artificial intelligence technologies, many issues arise that may be subject to legislation or judicial review in the coming years. The White House, the executive branch, has already written a memo about the risks of AI.

So where else does science fit into government, you might ask? Keep reading for some answers.

Politics and governance is one subject that Sheeva could talk about all day long. That’s why she recently recorded a three-part series on the role of science in each branch of government. Each video is an informal chit-chat in a “mukbang” style, meaning that she eats food while she tells stories.

Sheeva first did a mukbang video in which she ate Taco Bell and talked about the legislative branch and her experiences electing and working with members of Congress. Check out our blogs on the legislative branch, also.

Next, Sheeva did a video in which she ate 7-11 snacks and talked about her experiences in the executive branch of the government – namely, trying to get an internship in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Lastly, Sheeva talked about her experiences with the judicial branch while eating bagels from Old School Bagel Cafe. Sheeva also wrote about some of her experiences debating future Supreme Court clerks and lawyers in college, as a Parliamentary debater, on our Substack newsletter. Lastly, check out Sheeva’s recap blogs about the Scientific Evidence and the Courts colloquium.

Learn More about Science Policy for FREE with Fancy Comma, LLC

Check out our FREE resources for scientists interested in the broad impacts of science. Learn about science communication, science marketing, science policy, and more for free! Subscribe to our blog and newsletter so you don’t miss our insights. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! We would love to be part of your science communication and science policy endeavors. 🙂