preview

Separation Of Powers Dbq Essay

Decent Essays

Before the constitution, there were queens, kings, dictators and other tyrants with too much power. The Constitution of the United States kept that from happening by setting new rules and groups of people to be in charge of certain jobs, in order to keep a single person or group of people from gaining too much power. The US Constitution established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, presided over by George Washington. You may ask, How did the constitution guard against tyranny? Well four ways it was used to avoid tyranny were The Separation of powers, having two distinct governments, The three branches justifying each other's decisions and acts,, and by using the “Small state-Large State Compromise”. Furthermore, The US Constitution was made up of three major branches; The Legislative Branch, The Executive Branch, and The Judicial Branch. Also known as The Separation of Power. According to document C, James Maddison States “The constant aim is to divide and arrange several offices in such a manner as that they may be a check on the other….(The Three Branches) …show more content…

In document B, James Madison makes another statement “The accumulation of all powers, legislative , executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may be be justify pronounced the very definition of tyranny…. (L)iberty requires that the three great departments of power should be separate and distinct.” The reason for this is simple, Each government would have their own “powers”, but they would also share some in order to make things equal. Each government would have their own jobs but would also make sure that other is not making unconstitutional or unfair

Get Access