Separation of Powers

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When the states finally gained their independence from Great Britain, our founding fathers were pressed with the issue of establishing a new form of government to guide and oversee the new formed nation. In doing so, they crafted the United States Constitution with one specific goal in mind. The founding fathers aimed at creating such a government where the power was derived from the citizens of the nation and the possibility of a tyrannical leader taking control of the new nation would be extremely difficult. However, creating such a democracy would still be subject to tyranny. Tyranny of the majority allows for a majority rule that could lead to encroachment on individual rights. With this in mind, the drafters of the Constitution implemented a system of separation of powers and checks and balances.1
The Constitution divided the power of the government into three separate branches. The first three articles of the Constitution list the powers, duties, and responsibilities of each branch of government. In dividing the power between three separate branches, the drafters of the constitution also established a system of checks and balances between each branch. Each branch of government was assigned specific powers to limit each of the other two branches, in an even further effort to impede the chances of a tyranny occurring.1
Article one of the Constitution is reserved to the legislative branch of government. The legislative branch is made up of a bicameral Congress, consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate. The drafters of the constitution thought that Congress would be the most central part of government between the three branches. The main responsibilities of Congress include enacting and amending legislation, as we...

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...ree equal branches of government and allowed each branch to limit the actions of the other two. In doing so, the U.S. Constitution has thus far succeeded in its original task; avoiding a strong central government and tyrannical leadership. After more than 220 years, the original democracy our nation was founded upon still exists and allows each and every American to live out their dreams in a free nation.

Works Cited

1. Smith, Daniel. “Federalism: Foundations of American Government.” American Public University. Retrieved February 28, 2014.

2. The White House. “The Executive Branch.” n.d. http://www.whitehouse.gov/our- government/executive-branch

3. The White House. “The Judicial Branch.” n.d. http://www.whitehouse.gov/our- government/judicial-branch

4. The White House. “The Legislative Branch.” n.d. http://www.whitehouse.gov/our- government/legislative-branch

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