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Separation of Powers Essay

Decent Essays

Ange Miller
Separation of Powers essay
American National Government - 6
Professor: Aimellia Siemson

The concept of separation of governmental powers is an essential principle to our democracy. The Separation of Powers devised by the framers of the Constitution was designed to do one primary thing: to prevent the majority from ruling with an iron fist, so the framers shied away from giving any branch of the new government too much power. There were three branches created within the Constitution -- the Legislature, Executive, and Judicial, each of which have a distinct function and fine lines separating them. (1)
The Legislative Branch is composed of the House and Senate, The Executive, is composed of the President, Vice-President, …show more content…

(3) The executive branch makes sure people follow the laws that the legislative branch makes. The leaders of this branch are the President and Vice-President. When making important decisions, the President often asks for advice from a group of 15 helpers, known as the Cabinet. When people are unsure about the meaning of a law, the judicial branch listens to many opinions and makes a decision. The judicial branch is made up of courts and the highest of these courts is the U.S. Supreme Court and is made up of 9 judges. Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws, how they are applied, and whether they break the rules of the Constitution. (2) Of the more than 7,500 cases that are sent to the Supreme Court each year, only about 80 to 100 cases are actually accepted. (3)
“The doctrine of Separation of Powers was adopted by the convention of 1787,” in the words of Justice Louis D. Brandeis, “not to promote efficiency but to preclude the exercise of arbitrary power. The purpose was not to avoid friction, but, by means of the inevitable friction incident to the distribution of the governmental powers among three departments, to save the people from autocracy.” (1)

References

Magleby, D.B., & Light, P. C. (2009). Constitutional Democracy. In E. Stano (Ed.), Government By The People (23rd ed., pp. 20-23). United States: Pearson.

(2001, January 22). Ben's Guide to

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