Constitution
How the Constitution limits power through...
How does the Constitution limit the powers of government through separating the powers of government, checks and balances, and federalism?
The Constitution:
The Constitution has been around since September 17, 1787 when the required signatures from 9 out of the 13 states had been made, but how has the Constitution helped limit the powers of the government through separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism? Why is this process still important today?
Our government is divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch is where our laws are established by the Senate and House of Representatives. The executive branch is where our laws are enforced by the president. Lastly, the judicial branch is where our laws are interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. These three branches must follow the Constitution, because our government is a constitutional government. The separation of powers keeps our government from being under one ruler by dividing the power of the government.
Checks and balances is the power to check or stop another branch from gaining too much power when it is necessary. This will ensure the power of the government is distributed equally and limits the power of the government from belonging to only one person's hands.
Federalism is where a system of government where the power is split into one large group (National Government) and into other smaller groups (States). This makes sure our government can't completely take over and the states have a say in our government.