America: Separation of Powers and United States Constitution Essay examples

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America’s forefathers found it necessary to divide governmental power to ensure that history could not repeat itself; to protect the United States from being controlled by one ruler or a king. The forefathers established three branches of government to manage the enactment of important legislation. While diversity in political preference and views can create obstacles, it can also find compromising ground and come together for the greater good of the country. Law is a living thing, constantly changing as society evolves. The three branches of government: judicial, legislative, and executive were put into place to provide America with a solid foundation as a basis to grow from and expand on.
When our forefathers wrote the constitution in 1787, they were very much aware that with time, came change, so in knowing this, the constitution was written in an open manner, allowing for changes to be made to the document as seen fit. The forefathers did not want to create another document such as the articles of confederation which had only one branch of government and many thought the Articles to be very weak. Our forefathers did not want to give just one government so much power; they wanted to ensure that the people’s liberty would always remain protected, and by creating the three branches, the power would be split up.
Article One of the United States Constitution is Legislator, it describes the Congress, and the legislative branch of the government, Article Two of the United States Constitution is Executive, This section vests the executive power in a President, and Article Three of the United States Constitution describes the Judicial branch (court systems), with acknowledging that there shall be only one court called the Supreme Court. No branch has more power than the other two, the forefathers created the three branches of the government in hopes that not one individual or one government would hold all the power, this will come to be known as Separation of powers.
The divisions of power; judicial, legislative, and executive, are the branches of government that make the laws. These branches vary greatly based upon their political views and their idea of what is best for the country. These differences can often create obstacles in deciding which laws to push forward and which to table. What the legislative branch feels is best for the people could be overthrown by the judicial branch by ruling that it is not within the people’s rights as outlined in the Constitution. The executive branch will either approve and pass or veto the law all together. If the president were to veto, Congress still has the option, at this point, to dominate and overrule a veto as long as two thirds vote to pass the law. Because the different branches encompass members from different political parties, their views and beliefs are going to differ. These differences are the obstacles that impact our legislation.
The obstacle is more evident in the process of how a bill becomes a law. First, a bill is introduced and assigned to a committee and then a subcommittee. These committees are all working to improve the greater good of a specific area or jurisdiction. Because of this, what is best for one area may not be what is best for another? For example, the immigration issue which may not directly affect people in the northern states as much as it may affect people in the southern states. The majority of bills introduced, do not make it through committee due to lacking importance and or are inadequately prepared. The subcommittees then hold meetings and mark up the bill. If approved by the full committee, the full committee reports the bill to the House or Senate and it is place on the calendar. At this point, the House and the Senate review, debate, and vote on the bill. Obstacles can arise here because the member presenting the bill does not have to agree with the bill. If the member delivering the bill doesn’t believe in the bill or is not particularly
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