1.6 Principles of American Government

Separation of Powers

• Power is separated between government
• No one branch of government holds all the authority
• It is a three branch system instead of unitary
    * Legislative is bicameral and has Congress representing the people and can propose and make laws
    * Executive is POTUS and bureaucracy to execute and enforce laws
    * Judicial is SCOTUS and federal court system that interprets law constitutionality

Checks and balances

Ensures that a branch’s power can be checked by another

• Legislative checks on executive
    * advice and consent (Senate) to vote to approve high level appointments
    * House of Representatives can impeach a President
    * Can override veto with 2/3 vote bc of article II sec. 7
• Executive checks on legislative
    * Veto power to reject laws
• Judicial branch has judicial review to declare laws unconstitutional

Why do it this way? Federalist 51

• Separation of power and checks and balances can control power abuse by any branch
• Each branch has to work as independently as possible but possess checking powers to keep others on track
• Chief danger to new republic is investing too much power in one branch above all others

Access Points

• Essential for stakeholders who are affected by legislation

• Legsilative barnch allow stakeholders to infleucne and udnerstand

• IG groups pay professional lobbyists to make cause known and persuade votes in their favor

• Citizens can contact representatives

• With executive
    * Bureaucracy is accessible

• Complaints can be filed

• With judicial unjust laws are challenged or wrongful convictions are appealed to

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