Constitutional Principle
Separation of Powers/ Checks and Balances
How Separation of Powers in applied in the U.S.
The Executive Branch
- Nominating Supreme Court Justices
- Is in charge of military
- Signing bills into laws
- Vetoing bills
- Issuing pardons
The Legislative Branch
- Introduces Laws
- Impeaches President
- Coins Money
- Declares War
- Overrides Vetoes
- Borrows Money
The Judicial Branch
- Declares laws unconstitutional
- Interprets meanings of laws
Why did the Founding Fathers Include the Separation of Powers into the Constitution?
Separation of Powers/ Checks and Balances In the Constitution
Article II, Section. 1:
"The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America."
This means that the elected president holds all executive power.
Legislative Branch:
Article I, Section. 1:
"All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives."
Article I, Section. 7:
"All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States."
This means that the elected representatives of the Legislature hold all of the power of the Legislative Branch. They have the power to propose Amendments and laws, but all bills passed by the Legislature must be agreed on by the President before becoming a law.
Judicial Branch:
Article III, Section. 1:
"The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."
This means that the power of the Judicial Branch will be divided into one Supreme Court and many, smaller states courts that will be established by Congress.
Influence from Enlightenment Philosophers
Separation of Powers in our World Today
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/28/gray-obamas-pen-and-phone-vs-constitutions-checks-/