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| | The three branches of government are the [[Legislative branch]], the [[Judicial branch]] and the [[Executive branch]]. The Legislative branch consists of the two houses of [[Congress]]: [[United States Senate|The Senate]] and [[United States House of Representatives|The House of Representatives]]. The Judicial Branch consists of the Federal Court System led by the [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]]. The Executive branch consists of the [[President of the United States|President]] and his [[Cabinet]]. | | The three branches of government are the [[Legislative branch]], the [[Judicial branch]] and the [[Executive branch]]. The Legislative branch consists of the two houses of [[Congress]]: [[United States Senate|The Senate]] and [[United States House of Representatives|The House of Representatives]]. The Judicial Branch consists of the Federal Court System led by the [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]]. The Executive branch consists of the [[President of the United States|President]] and his [[Cabinet]]. |
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| − | [[James Madison]], [[America]]'s fourth [[President]], at the [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787, proposes to set up the three branches of the U.S. government; Judicial, Legislative, Executive. He discovered this as the model, reading [[Isaiah]] 33:22 “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us.” | + | [[James Madison]], [[America]]'s fourth [[President]], at the [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787, proposed to set up the three branches of the U.S. government; Judicial, Legislative, Executive. He discovered this as the model, reading {{bibleref|Isaiah|33|22}}: “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our final judge; He will save us.” Madison wrote in [[Federalist No. 47]]: |
| | + | {{cquote|No political truth is certainly of greater intrinsic value or is stamped with the authority of more enlightened patrons of liberty, than [separation of powers].<ref>https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-10-02-0266</ref>}} |
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| | + | Separation of powers prevents the aggregation of [[infinite]] authority, or [[tyranny]], in one person or group. |
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| | ==Powers of the Three Branches== | | ==Powers of the Three Branches== |
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| | ===Legislative Branch=== | | ===Legislative Branch=== |
| | The Legislative branch is checked by the other branches because of the following: | | The Legislative branch is checked by the other branches because of the following: |
| − | *The Prisident's veto power, | + | *The President's veto power, |
| | *Judicial review, | | *Judicial review, |
| | *The Vice President is President of the Senate and has the Tiebreaking vote. | | *The Vice President is President of the Senate and has the Tiebreaking vote. |
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| | The Executive branch checks the other branches because: | | The Executive branch checks the other branches because: |
| | *The president has veto power, | | *The president has veto power, |
| − | *He appoints judges, | + | *He appoints judges, |
| − | *The Vice President is President of the Senate, and has the tiebreaking vote. | + | *He can enact decrees, |
| | + | *The Vice President is President of the Senate, and has the tie-breaking vote. |
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| | + | Some theories, such as the [[Unitary Executive Theory]], place the President(executive) outside the reach of checks and balances. |
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| | + | == See also == |
| | + | *[[separation of powers cases]] |
| | == References == | | == References == |
| − | | + | {{reflist|1}} |
| − | <references/>
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| | [[Category:United States Government]] | | [[Category:United States Government]] |