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Branches of American government
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3 branches of the U.S. federal government
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1. An assessment of the strengths of the institutions mentioned implicitly recalls the most central strength of government as outlined in the constitution, namely its division into three major branches: legislative, executive and judicial. Regarding the legislative branch (Congress), its major strength is the opportunity – indeed, the mandate - to represent the interests and preferences of the citizens who elect representatives to conduct “the people’s business.” The laws and programs that guide social action and distribute resources to various interest groups may often be contentious due to the diversity of the American population, but the mechanism by which they are enacted remains one of the most successful in the history of political systems. Regarding the executive branch (Presidency), its major strength is the possibility of having a single nationally representative leader who can establish a broad agenda for the country, in both its domestic and foreign policies and programs. Mention was made in the lectures about the expansion of presidential power (and federal power more generally) in the centuries since …show more content…
the original “founder’s constitution,” and to a great extent this reflects changes in the modern world that require a ‘chief executive officer’ to respond to dynamic circumstances in a prompt and decisive fashion. Regarding the judicial branch (Supreme Court), its major strength is the balance it provides in reviewing decisions made by the legislative and executive branches, and by lower federal and state courts, with respect to appropriateness under the provisions of the constitution. By having a panel of nine highly-regarded legal scholars examine laws per se or as implemented with an eye to both fundamental constitutional principles and the actualities of contemporary society, the court can help ensure that institutions of government do not exceed or ignore their obligations to treat all citizens fairly; as inscribed above the entrance to the Supreme Court building, the goal is “equal justice under law.” Regarding the many agencies that in aggregate form the federal bureaucracy, their main strength is the ability to both inform and implement the programs enacted by the aforementioned branches of government. As was mentioned in the lecture, federal agencies have the ability to assemble and utilize the strengths of individuals with very specialized knowledge in their areas of expertise. [One of my favorite examples is Eric Green, the director of the National Human Genomic Research Institute (NHGRI) who is currently involved in planning the structure and potential implementation of the recently proposed Precision Medicine Initiative.] By informing policy initiatives with well-considered options that assess strengths, weaknesses and costs, and by helping to ensure that programs enacted are implemented effectively and efficiently, these agencies have great potential to offer services of real value to the constituents they represent. To be sure, the foregoing emphasizes the potential of the institutions cited to perform at their best, and likewise the many benefits to society that accrue in so far as that level of performance is achieved.
There are many examples, both historical and contemporary, where any branch of the government can be soundly criticized for having failed to live up to that standard, or for having exceeded its proper mandate and authority. For purposes of this essay, we need only note the reality of such circumstances, without enumerating particular instances. Though I am often cynical with respect to the actual operation of the various branches of government, I am in general agreement with Dr. Patterson’s assessment that American government is the most successful in the modern world, what Ronald Reagan once referred to us as “the last best hope of man on
earth.”
The United States of America is one of the most powerful nation-states in the world today. The framers of the American Constitution spent a great deal of time and effort into making sure this power wasn’t too centralized in one aspect of the government. They created three branches of government to help maintain a checks and balance system. In this paper I will discuss these three branches, the legislative, the executive, and the judicial, for both the state and federal level.
Lowi, Theodore J, et al. American Government Power & Purpose. 12th Ed. New York: W. W.
Following the failure of the Articles of Confederation, a debate arose discussing how a centralized government ought to be organized. The prevailing opinion ultimately belonged to the Federalists, whose philosophy was famously outlined in The Federalist Papers. Recognizing that in a free nation, man would naturally divide himself into factions, they chose not to remedy this problem by stopping it at its source; instead, they would limit its effects by placing strict structural safeguards within the government's framework. The Federalists defined a facti...
Neustadt brings to light three main points: how we measure the president, his strategy of presidential influence, and how to study them both. Today we deal with the President himself and with his influence on government action. The president now includes about 2000 men and women, the president is only one of them, but his performance can not be measured without focusing on himself.
American politics is often defined by a continuing power conflict between the executive and the legislative branches of the government. This struggle for political power between the two stronger branches of the three is inherent in the Constitution, itself. The concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances ensure that the branches of government will remain in conflict and provide a balance that keeps the entire government under control. As it was first established, the executive branch was much smaller and weaker than as we know it today. Consequently, the legislative branch was unquestionably dominant. Over the course of history, the executive branch grew in both size and power to the point where it occasionally overtook the legislative and today rivals the legislative in a much closer political battle. Today both branches have major factors that contribute to their power, but on the whole the legislative remains the lastingly dominant branch.
In conclusion, The Legislative Branch is the most powerful branch of the United States government not only because of the powers given to them by the Constitution, but also the implied powers that Congress has. There is also Congress’s ability to triumph over the Checks and balances that limits their power. The only thing truly holding The Legislative Branch back from gaining all the power, is the large amount of people involved in the process and their difference and ideologies, and that Congress is split into multiple houses, with public opinion and elections affecting half of the branch of government. Therefore, The Legislative Branch is the most powerful branch of the United States Government.
Democracy has been the root of a limited government, the system of which government powers are distributed so that one group of leaders do not have too much influence. The limited government has been structured to keep peace amongst all parties that are involved in the government. And under the U.S. Constitution, citizens are given ultimate power by their right to choose their representatives through the democratic process of voting. Each levels of the government are limited as they have their own responsibilities. The city government has the most local level of government as the residents elect a city council and mayor to represent their interest at the city level. All city governments establish housing and health regulations, and are responsible
The United States government braces its power among three powerful branches, legislative, executive and judicial. These branches interact with one another to establish authority that is strong, yet equal to have power over the country. Each branch pursues certain responsibilities and duties to operate in an efficient and effective manner in which society upholds. The executive, legislative and judicial branches all interact amid each other to validate accuracy of the nation’s most powerful law of the land, the Constitution. It is important to know how these branches interact with each other to learn how a bill becomes a law. Reflecting on how the three branches promote a balance of power that is constructive to include the agendas and electoral roles that also plays a vast part in the government’s operation.
The combined strength of the Government keeps it running effectively and efficiently. Without the individual branches, there would be chaos and hidden agendas would abound. Congress has its own particular strength, which in my opinion would be the House of Representatives’. Without this, individual states would cease to have a voice within and legislation would pass that would not favor a majority of them. As quoted here, “Congress reflects us in all our strengths and all our weaknesses. It reflects our regional idiosyncrasies, our ethnic, religious, and racial diversity, our multitude of professions, and our shadings of opinion on everything from the value
Even with multiple institutional barriers set in place to protect the republican form of government, the Framers’ system was ultimately a failure in protecting the rights of states and citizens and limiting the scope of government. Within 150 years, far-reaching legislation like the New Deal was being passed. John Dewey points out the failure of the ideas of the Framers saying, “The history of the last one hundred years is the history of non-fulfillment of their predictions.”4 It is especially evident today where factions are at war, bureaucratic sprawl is rampant, and judicial activism continues to increase. The Framers underestimated the influence of power, especially when one believes they are doing good through their use of power. Jonathan
The first citizen of a nation can be seen as an individual who is at the head of his institution and also one of his own citizens. It may seem ironic or even impossible that a person can assume such high standing while maintaining the typical image of his fellow men. But with the unique structure of the American Government and the many interesting facets of its President, the American Presidency can assume such roles. Since the military is headed by civilian control, the President’s status as Commander-in-Chief declares him as one of and head of the civilian population. The American President is the leader of his political party as chief of party, the ceremonial head of the American Government as chief of state, and a representation of the American People as the Chief Citizen. But since the President’s power is granted to serve his people, his status is also that which is in a way equal to or even subordinate to the citizens.
Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed upon, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage. It is excellent, we must all allow. Yet this government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the West. It does not educate. The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way. For government is an expedient, by which men would fain succeed in letting one another alone; and, as has been said, when it is most expedient, the governed are most let alone by it.
It is important to assess different governments and political views by their strengths and weaknesses. It’s irrefutable that there can be no particular governmental system will be considered ideal in the eyes of every individual, but what should transpire is that a vast majority of the general public living by the rules of a government should feel that it is well suited and ideal. This being said if I were to construct a theoretical government and political platform for a theoretical country, it would be one that is comprised of the strengths of many of the pre existing governments. My country, named “Summum” which means supreme in latin, would be a monarchal system or autocracy that embodies many of the strengths that platforms such as democracy,
Even though the presidential system is more likely to be able to survive emergencies such as wars and calamities (8), to act more rapidly and to become less constrained (11) due to the separation of powers and its direct mandate from the people, the effects of the system to the country turn out to be the opposite of its supposed-to-be advantages. Why? Because the reasons for its...
Wilson makes a comparison between the government systems of America and Europe and his intentions were not necessarily for America to do the same as Europe, but for us to explore and research other governments and public administrations, so that we can analyze and master our own. It is questionable why other governments have been more successful with certain matters than our own here in America. Wilson expresses relevant concerns and arguments that government systems should be further studied and improved as, it is crucial and ultimately beneficial to the nation and it’s