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What Are The Three Branches Of The Federal Government

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The United States was founded on constitutional political structure in an effort to force all members of the government to coexist equally. In this paper I will discuss the two features of the Constitution that are the cornerstone of our political system which are separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism. The separation of powers was intended to separate the three branches of the government. Each branch of the government would have distinct powers that would not heavily influence the other. This was intended so that the government would not abuse the power entrusted to them by the people. By setting this system in place it enforced a system of checks and balances. Each of the three branches keeps the powers of the other …show more content…

This means that the United States government has powers and local and state governments have certain powers of their own that are not dictated by the federal government. Each state just as the federal government has three branches of government. The federal government is responsible for banking, trade, national policy and acts of war whereas states are allowed to create, enforce and interpret their own laws as long as they do not encroach upon the Constitution. A recent example of federalism was the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington. A debate however is brewing due to the fact that there is a fine line between state and federal laws and how those laws will be enforced. It is federally illegal to have marijuana in your possession however in state such as Washington and Colorado you can legally purchase it. “The federal prohibition of marijuana was enacted when the Controlled Substances Act passed Congress in 1970” (Schlesinger). Due to the state law that past in Washington and Colorado the United States government must decide if it will enforce the federal statues on possession of marijuana. Some states believe the government should not interfere whereas other states believe that this is federalism as gone wild. These states believe that state and local laws should not supersede federal ones. But when should the federal government step in? Should our states be allowed to bypass federal law? Some people believe that if states legalize marijuana they should not receive federal funds. “The federal Controlled Substances Act classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance alongside heroin and ecstasy -- drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse." “But the federal Drug Enforcement Administration has largely left legal marijuana states alone”

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