Branches of The U.S. Government: Developmental Influences
Few consider the effort expended while creating the system of government currently practiced by the United States. The Founding Fathers had to craft a system capable of reconciling a myriad of points of contention: recognizing and protecting individual rights, prevention of a single body within the states gaining too much power, and how to effectively set growth limits of the federally governing body.
The Fathers has to restrict government enough to prevent unbridled growth, yet allow some room for expansion in order to accommodate unexpected need, all in order to adhere to the thought that government was to be restricted to those situations and problems that people could not cope with on their own. Attempts to measure performance of the government vary from person to person and the results can vary as widely as the method preferred.
Given the myriad of perspectives and facets presented by the diverse population of the United States, there will always be at least one point in continual contention, whether between the three branches of government, or between the people and the federal government as a whole.
John Locke’s original thoughts are the framework for the modern implementation of U. S. Government. Locke felt an ideal system of government would at minimum acknowledge these factors: all political power is a trust for the benefit of the people and the people themselves are at once the creators and beneficiaries of that trust. Contrary to popular belief, it was not Locke who called for the three distinct branches of government we recognize in today.
John Locke’s version of Utopian government only called for two branches, the executive and the legislative. The addition of the third branch was created solely for the purpose of placating the Anti-Federalists who were fighting against the implementation of the Constitution as it exists today.
The three branches comprising the United States government are the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial, each aligned with specific powers and areas of influence. The Constitution outlines a system of checks and balances ensuring no single branch could force influence over the other. The Legislative branch, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives, is responsible for the creation of federal laws.
The Executive branch (more precisely the President of the United States) owns the responsibility of administering, executing, and enforcing the laws of the government. Finally, the Judicial branch is comprised of the Supreme Court and the federal courts, which are charged with the role of interpreting and applying US law and judicial review.
There are six foundational principles with which the US government was established. Succinctly, they are: Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Judicial Review, and Federalism. Popular Sovereignty is a principle stating government’s power lies with the people and any action taken should be for their benefit.
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