The Principles Of Checks And Balances

The Constitution is an outline framework of fundamental laws for governing the United States and guaranteeing the basic rights of its citizens. The founding fathers wanted a democratic and balanced nation under control without too much interference from the government. In the Constitution, two of the six principles that we have, is a limited government, to prevent tyranny of the despot, as well as checks and balances. Limitation in the government is where the governmental power is restricted by law. No one has ultimate power so that we can all live in a free and equal society. The second principle, checks and balances, means that the three branches can check on the other two branches making sure they don’t seize control. The constitution keeps
The “checks” and “balances” completed by the government are essential to ensure that decisions are equal and beneficial for people. For instance they enable the Supreme Court to block another branch if its actions are against the constitution. Each branch of the government has a distinct purpose. If the President brings up something and a representative in one of the other branches thinks that this is unconstitutional, a case could be brought up in the Supreme Court. The President doesn't have absolute power over anyone in the judicial or legislative branches. Everyone within the three branches has to agree on laws and amendments to get them passed. Only congress can pass a law, even if the President vetoes the law, Congress can override it: “If after such Reconsideration, two thirds of the House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of the House, it shall become a law.” (Article 1, Section 7, Clause 3) By having these checks and balances in place, it creates a safer government. Since “we the people” elect the people who are running our government, it is important that our opinions get voiced and passed. This was the opposite of the British Constitutional Monarchy that we had fought against back in the 18th century. Since Colonists had no say in what was happening within their government, the British had absolute power over them and didn’t care how they treated the Colonists, since all the British wanted to do was pay back the debts for the war. In the constitution it states that, “The Senate shall have the sole power to try all Impeachments,” (Article 1, Section 3, Clause 6). Our founding fathers did not want to follow down the same path as the British Monarchy, a “tyranny of the despot”, so they established a democratic