Separation of Powers, Essay Example

The US Constitution provides for the separation of powers between various branches of the government. The system of separation of powers was designed to present a series of checks and balances among the various areas of political, legal, and economic power that were envisioned as being part of the American Constitutional democracy. Articles 1-3 of the Constitution describe the way in which the government is to be structured in order to achieve and preserve the separation of powers. Briefly, the articles call for the creation of three basic branches of government. These three branches are: the legislative branch, the judiciary branch, and the executive branch. The three branches together form a system of mutual support and restriction which, theoretically, provides for the coherent functioning of the federal government while simultaneously preventing the conservation of power by any single group or person.

Article One provides for the creation of the legislative branch, which is the American Congress. the American congress is, itself, a ” bicameral Congress composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives” (The Columbia Encyclopedia). Among the most important powers of the legislative branch are the powers of law-making and investigation. Article Two of the Constitution provides for the executive branch of government. The executive branch is led by the President. Among the most important of the President’s powers are the Presidential war-powers, and the Presidential veto. Article three provides for the creation of the judiciary branch of government. Among the most notable power of the judiciary is the interpretation of law and the creation of Supreme Court which assets Federal law of State law. The three main branches of government that are described by the articles of the Constitution form the basis of a system of checks and balances that is meant to reduce the domination of powerful interests or individuals.

Works Cited

Constitution of the United States. 2009. In The Columbia Encyclopedia 6th ed., edited by Lagass, Paul. New York: Columbia University Press.