determines

Class(1)Group()DiscussionNo.(2)

Theparationofpowerandthesystemofchecks-and-balances

inUSA

Introduction

Itisknowntousthatthepoliticalsystemvaryfromcountrytocountry

dependingonitsdifferentnationalcondition,suchastheconstitutional

monarchyofUKandthePeople'sCongresssystemofChina,the

thisdiscussion,wewilltalkaboutthe

howtheAmericangovernmentworksundertheideaofparationof

powerwhichisassociatedwiththechecksandbalancessystem..

Body

tutiondeclaredthatthegovernmentwas

dividedintothreedifferentbranchesincludingalegislative,anexecutive

andajudiciary,

ideawascreatedbecauthatAmericansdidnotwantthepowerstobe

reafraidthatifasmall

groupreceivedtoomuchpower,theUnitedStateswouldwindupunder

theruleofanotherdictatorortyrant.

Separationofpowersisapoliticaldoctrineoriginatinginthewritings

ofMontesquieuin"TheSpiritoftheLaws"whereheurgedfora

constitutionalgovernmentwiththreeparatebranchesofgovernment.

Eachofthethreebrancheswouldhavedefinedpowerstocheckthe

Class(1)Group()DiscussionNo.(2)

eawascalledparationofpowers.

ThisphilosophyheavilyinfluencedthewritingoftheUnitedStates

islative,executive,andjudicialbranchesofthe

UnitedStatesgovernmentarekeptdistinctinordertopreventabuof

tedState’sformofparationofpowersisassociatedwith

asystemofchecksandbalances.

HowdoestheUnitedStatesdowhenputtingtheideaofparationof

powerintopractice?Whichdepartmentisresponsibleforthelegislative,

executive,andjudicialworkrespectively?Infact,inUSA,thelegislative

isheadedbyCongress;theexecutivebranchheadedbythePresidentand

vetouvery

simplewordstodescribetheworkofthethreebranches,itcanbe

summarizedasfollow:theLegislativeBranchmakesthelaw;the

ExecutiveBranchenforcesandcarriesoutthelaws;TheJudicialBranch

anchofthegovernmenthaveparticular

powers,itwillbeintroducedfollowed.

ThePresident,whoisresponsiblefortheExecutiveBranchcarries

outfederallawsandrecommendsnewones,directsnationaldefenand

foreignpolicy,npowersinclude:

Mayvetolaws

dealingwithinternationalpowers,

ctingaschieflawenforcementofficer,

Class(1)Group()DiscussionNo.(2)

directinggovernment,commandingtheArmedForces,

WageswaratthedirectionofCongress(Congressmakestherules

forthemilitary)

Makesdecreesordeclarations(forexample,declaringastateof

emergency)

promulgateslawfulregulationsandexecutiveorders

Appointsjudgesandexecutivedepartmentheads

Haspowertograntpardonstoconvictedpersons,exceptincasof

impeachment

TheLegislativeBranchisheadedbytheCongress,whichincludesthe

ntaskofthetwo

npowersinclude

Writesandenactslaws

Enactstaxes,authorizesborrowing,andtsthebudget

Hassolepowertodeclarewar

Maystartinvestigations,especiallyagainsttheexecutivebranch

TheSenateconsiderspresidentialappointmentsofjudgesand

executivedepartmentheads

TheSenateratifiestreaties

TheHouofReprentativesmayimpeach,andtheSenatemay

remove,executiveandjudicialofficers

Class(1)Group()DiscussionNo.(2)

SetsupfederalcourtxcepttheSupremeCourt,andtsthenumber

ofjusticesontheSupremeCourt

Mayoverridepresidentialvetoes

originatingspendingbills(Hou),

impeachofficials(Senate),andapprovetreaties(Senate).

HeadedbytheSupremeCourt,Judicialbranchhasthefinalrightto

interpretthelaw,thatistosay,oncetheSupremeCourtdefinesthelaw,

npowersofthe

SupremeCourtinclude:

interpretingtheConstitution,

reviewinglaws

decidecasinvolvingstates'rights.

DetermineswhichlawsCongressintendedtoapplytoanygivenca

Determineswhetheralawisunconstitutional

DetermineshowCongressmeantthelawtoapplytodisputes

Determineshowalawactstodeterminethedispositionofprisoners

Determineshowalawactstocompeltestimonyandthe

productionofevidence

Determineshowlawsshouldbeinterpretedtoassureuniformpolicies

inatop-downfashionviatheappealsprocess,butgivesdiscretionin

individualcastolow-leveljudges.(Theamountofdiscretion

Class(1)Group()DiscussionNo.(2)

dependsuponthestandardofreview,determinedbythetypeofca

inquestion.)

Policesitsownmembers

Notonlydoeachbranchofthegovernmenthaveparticularpowers

doneto

keepthembalancedandtopreventonebranchformevergainingtoo

muchpower,

canbeshowninthesomeaspects:

ralawispasdornotdecidedbytheCongress

TheHouandSenatemaypassalawthatthePresidentdoesnotlike.

ThePresidentcanvetothelawbuttheCongressoverridethevideo

requiring2/3voteofbothhous.

remeCourtcandecideweatherthePresidentortheCongress

isunconstitutional.

IfTheHouandSenatepassalaw,thePresidentsignsit,butthe

SupremeCourtdecidesitisunconstitutional,theycanstrikedownthe

law.

ointmentoftheJudgesfortheSupremeCourisdecidedby

boththePresidentandtheCongress

ThePresidentnominatesJudgesfortheSupremeCourt;theUSSenate

mustapprovetheJudgenominatedbeforehecanrve.

Class(1)Group()DiscussionNo.(2)

gesofSupremeCourtcanberemovedbytheCongress

ycanbeimpeached.

gresscanvetotheproposalsofthePresidentandthecanreject

itagain,butitwasdecidedbytheCongress.

Aswecanetherearemanyways(therearemanymorethanlisted)that

turebelowshowsusclearlyhow

doesthethreebranchoftheAmericangovernmentrestricteachother

mutually,foreachbranchhascertainpowersovertheotherbranches.

Therearesomedefiniteexamplestoshowhowthesystemof

checks-and-balancesoperates:

Class(1)Group()DiscussionNo.(2)

•AftertheCivilWarPresidentAndrewJohnsonvetoedover20bills.

•AftertheCivilWarCongressoverrodeover20Presidentialvetoes!

•In1987PresidentRonaldReaganappointedJudgeRobertBorktothe

SupremeCourt,hisnominationwasdefeated.

•In1935and1936theSupremeCourtdeclaredtheNIRAandthenthe

AAA(twoNewDealprogramspasdduringtheRoovelt

administration)unconstitutional.

•In1918CongressrefudtoratifytheTreatyofVersailles,apeace

treatyendingWorldWarIthatPresidentWilsonhadworkedveryhard

on.

Therearethousandsofexamplesofchecksandbalancesatwork.

Reallifeconflictsthattestthesystemhaveoccurredthroughouthistory.

Thechecksandbalancesareudonaregularbasis.

Actually,intheory,thepoliticalsystemofChinaisinsomeway

ionalPeople's

Congresshaslegislativepower,icial

governmenthasonlythe

r,

therearemanydifferencesinthespecificinstitutionalandpractical

a,thepartyleadallandsometimesthePeople's

orethesystemof

Class(1)Group()DiscussionNo.(2)

checks-and-balancesisnotfullyimplementedinChina,whileinUS,this

systemisreallytheguidewhenthegovernmentworks,foreachbranch

hascertainpowersovertheotherbranchesandthethreebranchofthe

Americangovernmentrestricteachothermutually.

Conclusion:

Duringthisdiscussion,welearnitistheparationofpowerthatis

themainprinciplesonwhichAmericanfederalgovernmentisbad,the

differentpowersofthethreebranchesandualotofexamplesto

explainhowthethreebranchesaffecteachothertoshowthesystemof

urgroupsbelievethatthe

ideaofparationandthesystemofchecks-and-balancesdohave

contributedalottothedevelopmentofAmericaasmainprinciplewhen

thegovernmentoperates.