...Branches of Government Branches of Government The United States of America is run by our country’s Constitution. After the American Revolution, the newly named Americans realized the need for government and law. Our Constitution, once put into place, establishes three branches of government. It is important for all of Americans to understand why the founding fathers decided on three branches of government. It is also important to know what obstacles the division of power present for enactment of important legislation and how conflict has been characterized between supporters of a strong federal government and the supporters of state rights both in the past and now. The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787 by James Madison. This is considered the main law of the land. Any laws made for the country must agree with the Constitution. James Madison is the father of the constitution. Madison was the one that came up with the conspire that one branch could not have complete control. “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether on or a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-pronounced to very definition of tranny” (Spaeth & Segal 1999). This is when our three branches were born. In the Executive Branch we have our President, vice president, and all of the cabinet. Our president is allowed to make or laws, pass, or veto them. The legislative Branch has 435 representatives and 100 senators forming a party of 535 members...
Words: 1616 - Pages: 7
...The Branches of US Government Team D HIS/301 United States Constitution On May 25, 1787 one of the world’s most important documents was written, the United States Constitution. This Constitution has stood the test of time, in fact it is the oldest written Constitution still being used by a nation in the world. This proves that it was well thought out and planned. The 55 delegates who created the Constitution wanted it to be the heart of the body of law for the country. They put in place checks and balance to protect the tilt of power from becoming out of balance and created it to evolve with the country and the people it protected. One way they accomplished this major undertaking was to create three distinct Government branches. The government of the United States is divided into three groups, the legislative, judicial, and presidential branches. Our forefathers were concerned that the government could become under rule of a totalitarian regime. One person would obtain so much power that he or she would become sole ruler, or dictator. Our forefathers believed that they could create a government with checks and balances, which would help prevent too much power going into one person or groups hands. “Our forefathers created a governing system that had really yet not existed” (Why, 2011). This was new, something the world had never seen before. “Democratic governments already were in existence yet, our forefathers, wanted to create a government unlike...
Words: 1343 - Pages: 6
...Introduction In 1787 our forefathers came together and wrote our country’s constitution. They created a structure of government that really exist yet. The U.S is divided into three branches: legislative, judicial, and executive branches. This was done for the purpose of checks and balances. The branches have the power to check one another hence having a balance in power so the no branch is more powerful than another. Operating idea of federalism and constitutionalism, states could govern themselves, to a certain extent, and the national government would have the right to govern the states and nation as well. Ultimately the framers would divide powers amongst the three branches. No other democracies around the world use this approach. Many believe our three branches of government is the strength of the United States government. America’s forefathers divided the government into the legislative, judicial, and executive branches When the framers were developing the constitution, they wanted to establish a government where the freedoms of the people would not be susceptible. The framers used the principles defined by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Thomas Hobbes came up with the idea of social contract where individuals gave up certain rights in order for protection. Hobbes knew the people would need to give up some freedoms and follow a leader who would supply safety. John Locke believed that all individuals were entitled to his or her absolute rights and that social contracts...
Words: 402 - Pages: 2
...Branches of Government Team A HIS/301 30 Apr 2016 Mr. Joseph Richardson University of Phoenix After winning the Revolutionary War the Founding Fathers of the United States of America needed to come together on how they were going to run their new independent country. They all came together and decided they wanted their country governed based on a Constitution that followed natural law. They also wanted the separation of branches of government with checks and balances to ensure no one branch gets too much power, which is still in use to this present day. There are three branches of government that come together to make up a bill and keep it in place. There is the legislative branch, executive branch, and judicial branch. The legislative branch is there to make the laws. The executive branch carries these laws out and finally the judicial branch evaluates all these laws. The founding fathers put these three branches in place having in mind that they wanted all three to have equal power and an equal amount of work. These three branches consist of many checks and balances to share the power; it’s all about compromising. Each branch checks the power of the other branches to make sure power is balanced between each of them. The legislative branch introduces and votes on a bill, and then the bill goes to the executive branch where the president decides whether or not to veto the bill. Finally, once a bill is passed people can test it through the court system and this...
Words: 1164 - Pages: 5
...Branches of Government Branches of Government America’s forefathers found it necessary to divide governmental power to ensure that history could not repeat itself; to protect the United States from being controlled by one ruler or a king. The forefathers established three branches of government to manage the enactment of important legislation. While diversity in political preference and views can create obstacles, it can also find compromising ground and come together for the greater good of the country. Law is a living thing, constantly changing as society evolves. The three branches of government: judicial, legislative, and executive were put into place to provide America with a solid foundation as a basis to grow from and expand on. When our forefathers wrote the constitution in 1787, they were very much aware that with time, came change, so in knowing this, the constitution was written in an open manner, allowing for changes to be made to the document as seen fit. The forefathers did not want to create another document such as the articles of confederation which had only one branch of government and many thought the Articles to be very weak. Our forefathers did not want to give just one government so much power; they wanted to ensure that the people’s liberty would always remain protected, and by creating the three branches, the power would be split up. Article One of the United States Constitution is Legislator, it describes the Congress, and the legislative branch...
Words: 1299 - Pages: 6
...Branches of Government Michael Mousaw His/301 April 25, 2011 University of Phoenix Ric Hulshoff Branches of Government The founding Fathers of America divided the United States government into three branches of power in order to maintain a system of checks and balances. They did not want a government where one person or one body of government had all the power. The founding fathers of these United States wanted to step away from the totalitarian system of governance imposed on colonial America by the British (Trethan). Three Branches of Government With this thought in mind the founding Fathers of the United States came up with what Americans know now as the Federalist governing system. This Federalist government consists of the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. Each of these branches has its own distinct and essential duties to perform in the function of the United States government (Trethan). Executive Branch The executive branches of the United States government consist of the president, vice-president, and 15 cabinet level departments. These 15 cabinet level departments include the State, Defense, Interior, Transportation, and Education. The chief point of power is in the hands of the president. The president chooses his vice president, cabinet members, and appoints the Supreme Court Justices. The primary function of the executive branch is to ensure the laws are carried out, the constitution is followed, and that the day to...
Words: 1652 - Pages: 7
...Branches of Government Patrick Henry, an amazing orator, was once quoted as saying, “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government” (Patrick Henry, 2014). It is for this reason that the United States government was formed in a way that would protect its citizen’s rights and freedoms; at the same time, keeping civil peace and harmony amid all populations of this new nation. In order to “form a more perfect union” the forefathers of the United States of America generated a balance in the interior of the government. The division of the government into three branches would therefore establish a series of checks and balances that set into action the proposition that all men and the government are created equal. Three Branches There are three types of branches of government that the American people deal with: executive, legislative, and judicial. The first branch of government is the executive government. According to The White House website (n.d.), “The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise...
Words: 1209 - Pages: 5
...Describe the conflict between supporters of a strong federal government and champions of states' rights historically and currently. Federalists responded saying national government have no interest in taking the states of their liberty or of their right to decide local matters. National government, would be responsible for establishing a strong defense and promoting a sound economy, while states would retain nearly all other governing functions, including public education and safety. The issue of slavery was a growing threat to the Union's survival. With fear of the Northern states to abolish slavery, southern leaders devised constitutional argument to fit their political desires. South Carolina argued the constitution had created" a government of states not a government of individuals.". This led to the Calhoun "doctrine of nullification," when declared that any state had the constitutional right to nullify a national law. The supreme court's infamous Dred Scott decision (1857), written by Chief Justice Roger Taney a statis rights advocate, told the conflict. Dred Scott, a slave that had lived in the North for four years, applied for his freedom when his master had died, citing a federal law the Missouri Compromise of 1820 that made slavery, illegal in a free state or territory. The Supreme Court ruled against Scott, claiming that people of Africian descent were barred from citizenship and thereby could not sue for their freedom in federal courts. The court also invalidated...
Words: 306 - Pages: 2
...HIS/301 Branches of Government Paper University of Phoenix July, 26 2010 Branches of Government Former President Thomas Jefferson once said, “Government are instituted among Men, deriving their just Power from the Consent of the Governed.” Since the second continental congress declared America’s independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776 the United States government has sought to realize the fundamental principle on which our nation was founded. This was the start of the government we now know and still honor today. As our school children say every morning in class, as our founding fathers wished for us, that all people have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This paper will answer a handful of questions such as; what were the reasons our forefathers divided the government into the legislative, judicial, and executive branches? How are the three branches of the U.S. government supposed to interact? Is the system successful? Why or why not? Are the branches balanced in power? How was the conflict between supporters of a strong federal government and champions of states’ rights characterized then as opposed to now? How could things have been designed more efficiently, if at all? Our founding fathers divided the government into three separate branches was because they planned to implement a democratic government that would work to serve the citizens and not regulate them. In other words, the founding fathers wanted to devise...
Words: 1986 - Pages: 8
...Form If you are using the Blackboard Mobile Learn App, please click "View in Browser". Click the link above to submit your assignment. Students, please view the "Submit a Clickable Rubric Assignment" in the Student Center. Instructors, training on how to grade is within the Instructor Center. Assignment 1 "Branches of Government" Create a flowchart of the three branches of government and associate two (2) Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) clauses for each branch of government. Designate the relationships among the governmental branches. In an accompanying document, exemplify the types of powers of each branch of government and include these items: * Taxing and spending powers * Limits on both federal and state governmental actions * Due process * Equal protection In a three to four (3-4) page flowchart, include the following: 1. Organize all three (3) branches of government in a flowchart format. 2. Designate two (2) UCC clauses that align with each branch. 3. Illustrate the interactivity among the branches of government in the flowchart. 4. In a separate document, exemplify the types of powers of each branch of government. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: * Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. * Include a cover page containing...
Words: 713 - Pages: 3
...fundamental principles upon which the constitution is based. It does not recognize any right. In fact, it was never used as a basis for the recognition of the right. It does not also grant any power on the part of the federal or the state government. In fact, it was never used as a source of authority for the government. However, this does not mean that it is not important. Since the Preamble establishes the guiding principles upon which the United States Constitution was based it can be used as a basis for interpreting vague and doubtful provisions of the United Constitution. The United States Constitution is the primary document which establishes the fundamental powers of government. The United States Constitution distributes the main powers of the government to its three main branches which are the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary. These three departments perform different functions. In the performance of these functions that are assigned to them, these three departments are the ultimate authority. For instance, the Executive is the sole department that executes the law. The Legislative is the sole department that makes and alters laws. The Judiciary is the sole department that interprets laws. The powers of the government have been conveniently divided to these three departments. This is known as the principle of separation of powers. However, this does not mean that the one department cannot interfere when the other department is committing a grave...
Words: 714 - Pages: 3
...How does the government split the responsibilities of running the country equally? There are so many jobs that need to get done, but it has to happen in an orderly way. As a result, the government is broken up into three branches, the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. Each branch includes different people, serve different functions, and are made to keep the other branches in check so one does not have all the power. This way, laws can be made, enforced, and ensured they fit the constitution. The branches all work together to form the government. To begin with, one branch of the government is the legislative branch. The people who contribute to the legislative branch are the House of Representatives and the Senate. There are 100 senators and 435 House of Representatives in the legislative branch. They are responsible for making and passing laws, declaring wars, ratifying treaties, and controlling federal taxation. Although the legislative branch is powerful, its decisions aren't permanent. Even though a president can veto a law the Congress can override the decision if ⅔ of the Congress votes to pass the law. The legislative branch can also impeach the president...
Words: 505 - Pages: 3
...Branches of the Federal Government Name Institution The US federal government constitutes three arms namely: the legislature, executive and justice. The executive constitutes of the president and about 5000 workers, the legislature constitutes the representatives and the judicial is made up of both the Supreme Court and lower courts. (Truman, 1993) The legislative arm of the government is also called Congress. It is divided into the senate which has 100 senators and 435 representatives. The number of representatives’ is determined by the population of people in a given state. The senators and representatives are elected by eligible voters in their states (Truman, 1993). It is charged with the making of national laws and allocation of funds that will assist in running of the federal government. They also provide assistance to the 50 US States (Truman, 1993). Members of the congress should vote according to the views of the constituents who elected them. Members of the congress should therefore visit their home districts and keep in touch with their constituent views. They should also be in good communication terms with their local political leaders. Some congress men pay attention more than others but they all at one point will go back to their homes. If one hopes to be elected again then they ought not to ignore their own constituency. People will always vote for a candidate who cares for them all the time and not one that just rushes to his people...
Words: 812 - Pages: 4
...The Constitution, created by the Founding Fathers, limited the power the national government had. With this new addition for the United States, the national government wouldn’t become too powerful and take over like the king of England. The people didn’t want a government that would become too powerful and turn into a monarchy. This new addition was made after the Articles of Confederation failed to rule America. The Constitution included a government with three branches, the Legislative branch, Judicial, and Executive branch. These three branches would have power over different things and neither three would have more power over the others. This way, people would feel safe and wouldn’t be afraid their national government would become too strong. And we still have this type of government today....
Words: 585 - Pages: 3
...as the governing tool was enacted in 1787 when Congress formed a federal government and adopted the article of confederation in 1778. The purpose of this constitution was to strengthen the federal government and provide a separation of powers on the three branches. Each branch has their own responsibilities, but also work together to make the country run smoothly. This is done through checks and balances, where branches check on each other to make sure they are not over using their powers. There are three branches of the U.S government. These three branches are exemplified below: LEGISLATIVE: This is the first branch of the U.S government that writes debate and passes bills which are then passed to the President for approval. They have the power to confirm or reject presidential appointments, and also have the authority to declare war on other countries. This branch includes Congress (House of Representatives and house of senate) and several agencies that provide supports to Congress. They make laws associate with the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) including the control of trade between the United States and other countries; make laws on taxes, borrowing money and approve the making of money. They also have the power to decide if a government official should be put on trial if they commit a crime against the United States. EXECUTIVE: The Executive branch is the largest branch of the federal government. At its head is the President who serves a four year term. The Vice President...
Words: 505 - Pages: 3
