The Importance of Separation of Powers & Checks and Balances : Seth Connell
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The Separation of Powers “is one of the most important parts of the American Republic”(Connell). The separate branches of the U.S. government are executive, judicial, and legislative who work together instead of having one leader who does all the work. If we had that one person, passing any laws they so desire, with no one checking in and helping, we would be in serious trouble. But not just any law or legislation could be passed, because there are two different branches the law has to go through and be passed by. The term “Separation of Powers” was made by the great Enlightenment philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu. “He used the models of ancient Rome and the British Constitutional system to theorize the ideal distribution of governmental powers”(Connell). This means that he saw what had worked and hadn’t worked in passed governments, and created what would keep tyranny and over-powerment from happening. When one person has a king’s mentality, they can see themselves as higher and greater, and they can see other people as low and useless. This mentality can cause selfishness and people being unhappy throughout the people.
The Founders’ Fear: by James D. Best
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“Concentrated power was more than dangerous… it was life threatening,” (Best 1). This concentrated power, or power directed to one person or branch, scared the Founding Fathers because they knew it would end in destruction and tyranny. Because they had felt the horror of a monarch and knew what it would create, they gave their new government clearly specified powers. This is why they created separation of powers, checks and balance, limited power, and voting people in and out. “The system was purposely designed to slow governmental actions enough to allow due deliberation,” (Best 1). Now, some people think this is irritating and frustrating, but those are the people who think the government should solve every problem and fix everything. That’s not the government’s job. This system doesn’t fix every worldly problem and make everyone’s situations perfect, but this system keeps the government from doing something that would hurt our freedom and right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. “The Constitution was never written for the politicians” (Best 1), but for the people. We are supposed to be involved and know who is up in the seats of the government and what they are doing.
Creating the Constitution(Separation of Powers & Checks and Balances): Independence Hall Association
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The Founding Fathers were very mindful of the dangers of a government built like a tyranny. So they built a system “in which the powers of each branch would be used to check the powers of the other two branches” (Independence Hall Association). The two houses of Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) vote to enact laws, The President (Executive Branch) can say yes or no to the laws, and the Supreme Court (Judicial Branch) can rule the laws Constitutional or unconstitutional. “Congress can override presidential vetoes. The President nominates Supreme Court justices, but the Senate can refuse to confirm the nominees” (Independence Hall Association). Because of all these rules and ways of the branches, a balance was created.
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