The framers of the United States Constitution were aware of the need to delegate power to separate entities in order to prevent one specific group or tyrannical leader from obtaining absolute power. Having the recent memories of living under an Imperial rule, which was a single power entity (absolute power), the framers were specific in outlining the new government and the roles it would be allowed to rule. It was split into three distinct branches, legislative, executive and judicial. Each branch was delegated with specific responsibilities, and each were given rights to check the other branches to prevent an overreach of their powers (checks and balances).
The executive branch’s duties are clearly defined in the constitution, and vests
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In order to amend the constitution, both chambers must approve the proposed amendment by a two-thirds majority, the measure is then sent to the states. Congress also has extensive powers over budgetary and financial aspects, which include, levy and collect taxes, duties, and excise fees. They can allocate money to pay the government’s debts. They are allowed to borrow money on the credit of the United States. They can regulate commerce between the states and other nations. They can print or coin money and allocate money to provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. The legislative branch can be checked and balanced by the executive and judiciary branch, if the policy is not liked by the executive branch, or deemed unlawful by the judiciary …show more content…
With the legislative branch having such a huge pool of representatives, and the executive having an extremely small pool of representatives, one could see if this procedure was not present, one branch could completely overrun the others. The executive branch may be called the commander in chief, but that does not mean they are above the law, and they must operate within their scope of authority.
The “checks and Balances” system is not without criticism. Arguments that due to all the required process of making policy, it becomes too cumbersome and time consuming to be efficient. Many times, a proposal can become so disputed that it becomes gridlocked, making a chance of any change occurring remote. Most believe that a majority of society is largely self-regulating and requires little new policies enacted from government for the success of the nation as a whole and see the “Check and Balances” process as