Without any thought, most people would say that the executive branch would have the most power solely because a part of it is the president who is the leader of our country. However, after further learning, those people would agree that it actually is the legislative branch with the most power. The Hon. John Charles Thomas believes that Congress indeed has the most power and uses the fact that:
- Article I on the Legislative Branch has 2,278 words, 53 paragraphs, 219 lines.
- Article II on the Executive Branch has 1,028 words, less than half, 13 paragraphs, 95 lines.
- And Article III on the Judicial Branch has only 377 words, 7 paragraphs, 37 lines.
(http://www.opm.gov/constitution_initiative/speech.asp).
This may simply be a coincidence however in a speech presented to the Leadership Conference of the Office of Personnel Management, he also stated the fact that the order in which the branches were written of in the Constitution was not done by random. He said that "the Founders thought that the Legislative Branch was going to be the great branch of government; they thought that the executive had to be constrained and controlled; and they hardly gave any thought at all to the Judicial Branch. In so structuring the Constitution they were suggesting how the government should work" (http://www.opm.gov/constitution_initiative/speech.asp).

The Founding Fathers also did not want another monarchy, similar to the one they had just gotten rid of, to arise. That was why they put so many limits on the executive branch and because the president, the head of the nation, is just one man, he could have biased opinions. That is why Congress was also given the power to override a veto by a 2/3 vote. The System of Checks and Balances is a way that the Founding Fathers created to keep power from going out of control. But, the legislative branch, through this received more power over the other branches. The power to override a veto, to be able to declare war, to be able to make bills into law and more were given because Congress was closer to the people. Therefore, they would have a better understanding of what the U.S. citizens would want. In the House and the Senate, there are also more people than just one person so justice, which is part of the preamble, could be exercised and ensured because they use a system of voting.

Although the legislative branch has more power, the president in the executive branch often gets more attention and fame. Two of such presidents were F. D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Both were in office during difficult times and were very well liked yet one was old and the other was the youngest to be elected as president in U.S. history.

Franklin D. Roosevelt may have attended Harvard University and Columbia Law School however he did not have an easy life. When he was 39, he was stricken with poliomyelitis but he fought hard to regain control of his legs through physical therapy in swimming. Then he also showed more courage by becoming president at the depth of the Great Depression. The New Deal that he proposed was constantly questioned, stood up against and hated yet he had the title of president in his pocket for 3 more terms. One of his most famous quotes is "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" (http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/). This helped the 13,000,000 unemployed to find some sort of comfort in their time of need and fear.
(Additional source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/fr32.html)

John F. Kennedy also attended Harvard but his life after in the Navy was not a luxurious one. When his boat was sunk by the Japanese, he led the survivors onto land despite grave injuries. This was a great example of the leadership and perseverance that a president should have. Also, during his term was the failed invasion of the Bay of Pigs. Kennedy had to deal with all of that humiliation and the criticism from the public. Then the Cuban Missile Crisis came up where the Russians were suspected of putting nuclear missiles in Cuba and although JFK's decision of forming a blockade may have been secretive, he did what was best for the country. All these qualities were similar to FDR's characteristics but it was different situations with different resolutions that brought out these similarities. JFK also had a famous quote. In his inaugural address, he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country" (http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives/Reference+Desk/Derivation+of+Ask+not+what+your+country.htm). This was an inspiring quote that made people get up onto their feet and start working and helping the community.
(Additional source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jk35.html)

Both presidents represented that Congress was important. The New Deal was not something that was just proposed and issued as law all by the president. Also the decision for the blockade and for the Bay of Pigs Invasion had to be run through Congress. Although the Invasion was not successful, the other two were and legislation played a big role. Without their consent, we might have been in a world-wide nuclear war right now and we could have still been in the Great Depression or in an even Greater Depression.