Rights and Freedoms

Principles and Articles of the United States Constitution
Cynthia Hernandez
Grand Canyon University: POS 301
August 11, 2013

Principles and Articles of the United States Constitution SELF GOVERNMENT =The principle that the people are the ultimate source and should have a voice in their governing. | SEPARATION OF POWERS =The division of the powers of government among separate institutions or branches. | CHECKS AND BALANCES =The elaborate system of divided spheres of authority provided by the U.S. Constitution. | We live in a democratic country and therefore, all eligible citizens that can vote have the power to rule through elected representatives. | Legislative Branch, which has the power to make laws. | Checks and balances is the base through which no branch has more power than the other two. | “We the people of the United States…” has more meaning in self-government than anything else. | Executive Branch, which has the power to carry out and enforce laws. | The power of one branch is usually checked by the other two, so all three branches work together to come to any agreement. | | Judicial Branch, which has the power to manage conflicts over the interpretation, application and enforcement of laws. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Power in some cases was shared among three branches and the power by one branch could be checked by that of another. For example, the governors could not collect taxes without the consent of the legislature was checked by the magistrates who made sure that the laws did not violate those England. (Quigley, 1998). The framers’ concept of divided powers has been indeed very effective in the federal government. It has helped organize the work into different branches and thus, working constructively and in a very sound manner. It fundamental for the United States to have Checks and balances to check each branch to come to the best decisions regarding funds, laws, imports and exports, and not to mention the election of our officials in government. These separation of powers are amongst the executive, legislative and, judicial branches. Some of the powers overlap in a way so that all three branches work together. Executive power is vested in the president but is constrained by legislative and judicial checks. (Patterson & Thomas, 2011). The Judicial branch has the power of the Supreme Court and the other two branches share different powers that have to be check by one another. The American system of checks and balances, with a separation of powers was designed to prevent the over empowerment any of the other two. Another example of how Checks and Balances works is when laws are made. So here we see how all three branches work together and how effective the checks and balances work and how any kind of law, foreign affair, compromise with another country and basically anything that has to do with the government has to go through all three branches. Not only is checks and balances beneficial to government but it is like an example e to many companies and corporate offices as there are many departments that work together and check each other off to make sure that everything runs smoothly in any company.

Part II: The Three Branches of the Federal Government.
The Executive Branch * The President is in this branch * In charge of federal laws * Directs national defense and foreign policy

* Moves the government * Demands the Armed Forces * Works with international powers * Vetoing laws
Legislative Branch * Headed by Congress (House of representatives and the Senate) * In charge of laws * Impeaching officials * Approving treaties
Judicial Branch * The Supreme Court * Interpreting the Constitution * Reviewing laws and making sure they are good so they won’t be dismissed * Deals with cases that have to do with states’ rights
The three branches interact in many ways and are designed to overlap in their duties. Although Congress has legislative authority, their powers are partly shared by the judicial and executive and thus has to be reviewed and checked by them. The Executive Branch has the power of the president but is also connected by legislative and judicial checks. The executive branch cannot act without laws that authorize its activities have the money that pays for these activities. Last but not least, the Judicial Branch has the power of the Supreme Court and other federal courts, which are subject to checks by the other branches of the federal government. A far better example of how these three branches interact with each other is how a bill becomes law. First the legislative branch introduces and votes on a bill then goes to the executive branch where the principle then decides if the bill is good enough for our country. If it goes through, then the president signs the bill and if not then the legislative gets another chance and with enough votes, the legislative branch can override the executive branch’s veto and it becomes law. Then next phase is where the law is tested and examined by the court system which is under the judicial power. Lawyers get together and make sure that this law is fair enough for everyone so that their will not be any lawsuit or anything like that.
The effectiveness on the process of government The three branches together interact in such an effective way that they all make sure that every issue and or law that is passed goes smoothly. The main idea of the having three branches is so that no one branch of government could become too powerful. This idea gives more room for the President , Congress and, and the Supreme Court to work better in their field and at the same time they all work together by checking each other off. Although everything is done in a professional manner, it seems as though the representatives of the people are more concerned about their personal interests and winning their own competition. When they are running for governor for example it seems that they will say or do anything to win. The bad thing is that sometimes they don’t do as promised. The electorate is rather important in the elected officials because they want to win and in order to do that, they must put the people in their pockets. In other words, the public has a major impact on them winning or losing. That is why when they are running for governor for example, you see them on billboard, in TV commercials, and they make t-shirts, pamphlets, flyers and whatever it takes to win the people vote for them.

Reference page
Patterson, T. (2011), The American Democracy, McGraw-Hill
Quigley, C (1998) We the People, California, Center for Civic Education