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What Are The Three Branches Of Government

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Living in one of the most distinguished republican societies in the world, Americans have the responsibility of understanding the government, and why and how the various principles within the constitution prohibit the government – or branches in the government – from becoming too powerful. One of the key tenets of republican government is the separation of powers; separating the various powers allow for the branches to act as checks and balances for each other. According to one of America’s founding fathers, James Madison, a government without separation of powers is the epitome of tyranny. Madison argues in his essay, “Federalist 47,” that although the separation of powers among the three branches of government are essential to liberty and …show more content…

The current model of the different branches having the power to “check” other branches prevents this from happening; if there is a disagreement over a policy or decision, there is a possibility of it not being passed because of an objection from a different branch. For example, the president (executive branch) has the power to veto policies coming from congress (legislative branch). Although this “checking” ability can cause stagnation in a government, it prevents branches of the government from straying to carry out their own policies, disregarding the rest of the government. Essentially, the branches of the government are prevented from achieving anything without cooperation, resulting in a government which more widely encompasses the views of the general population, in addition to focusing their goals. Unfortunately, when there are branches which are too stubborn, or splits within branches, stagnation also occurs in this model of republican government, despite the model's purpose being prevention of

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