Political
Science Final paper
Essay 1
The insinuation of the American Federal system of Governance as a political organization by the founding fathers was rooted in the spirit and veracity of independence and freedom of the people of the United States of America (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). The system was primarily based on the sovereignty of the American people with an aim of sharing and dividing power equally. The purpose was to make each and every noble men and women of the United States to dream again and to develop a sense of togetherness and brotherhood (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). Today, the system, though revolutionized, still stands tall and has been instrumental in achieving what most political scientist has dubbed the ‘federal democracy’. The system is largely crucial in agitating for the interest and rights of minority groups in the United States that are articulately addressed and protected (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). A close analysis of the history of the American Federal system points out to three important and crucial personas. These include; artificiality and originality, entirely bed rocked on human reasoning, and a consequence of circumstances (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007).
Compared to other unified systems of governance in equally developed economies, the American Federal system is severely criticized (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). For instance, the system is viewed as weak in controlling the individual states and citizens and is, therefore, liable to a possibility of dissolution or secession in case of a rebellion by a single state (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). The costs and complexity of the Federal system in the administration of the states and enacting relevant legislations cannot be underpinned. In addition, most states have been decrying over the unavailability of appropriate and uniform laws to curb certain vices common in a democratic setting. The management and conduct of foreign affairs under the American Federal system of Governance is viewed as weak compared to other developed economies with unitary Government systems (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007).
However, the American system is equally instrumental despite the clear-cut challenges it sometimes faces. For instance, through the system, the United States of America has gained a collective force as a country in world affairs thereby reducing the risks of economic and security impulses among the component states (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). Unlike centralized system of governments in equally developed countries, the Federal system has enabled different states with different diversities a chance to experiment legislations and self-governance (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). Through the self-governance of the component states, the interests of the people are best served through civic educations; provision of basic amenities and individual independence and opulence is assured. The Federal system provides avenues to check the powers of the three branches of governance under it and as a result, the country progressed and grew both in might and statues (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). Similarly, the Federal system has united the states into one country without necessarily abolishing their self-administration and legislative systems thereby enhancing patriotism. The US Federal Government guarantees to every state equal distribution of resources and ensures that no state has supreme interests that supersede that of the Federal Government (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007).
However, the Federal Government and the States administrations may have corresponding and overlapping responsibilities and functions making the whole processes of management sometimes a challenge. For instance, the power to tax is sometimes concurrent between the two forms of governance, the Federal and States Governments (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). As a result, a gridlock sometimes resurfaces in determining what type of taxes to levy and the extent of the jurisdiction of both governments. The sometimes states enact acts increasing their legislative authority and control that may contravene or even contradict the power of the Federal US Government (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). According to the US digital histories, the Republican ideologies that created the Federal system among other issues delegated various powers to the States administrations. As a result of these frequent concurrences and contradictions in the separation of powers in the US, the Constitution was made supreme to help define the powers and jurisdictions between the two Governments (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007).
Under the Federal Government, three forms of Governance that operates in unison are derived, and the success of the system primarily depends on the efficiency of the forms of government (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). The three types include; the public closely scrutinizes the Judiciary, the legislature, and the executive and they. In essence, it is imperative that the three systems complement each other in the provision of quality service delivery (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). For instance, the legislature enacts laws governing all organs and state departments while the Judiciary explains and interprets such legislations where appropriate. The executive then executes and enforce such laws in accordance with the Constitution and the generally accepted principles and ethos. The three branches of government all constitutes and complement the Federal system under the leadership and guidance of the US Constitution (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007). The three branches are directly or indirectly indebted to the electorates and are obliged to adhere to set principles and service provision specifications. The effectiveness of the state and Federal administrations is glued to the performances and efficiency of the three forms of governance (Kelleher, Christine and Jennifer, 2007).
Essay two
The US Constitution constitutes a comprehensive system of separation of power under which three branches of Government checks and balances each other. The three branches of Government includes; the administrative (executive), the legislature, and the courts (Judiciary). The three systems of governance work in unison and complement each other in the general service delivery to the public (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The founding fathers of America while writing the constitution ensured that the powers were spread uniformly among these branches (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). As a result, none of the three systems of Government has excessive powers, and direct consultations between the branches are always universal. Notably, each branch has a distinct function separate from each other while keeping each other under checks and balances in case of a potential misuse of power (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014).
The executive comprises of the office of the US President, the vice president, and cabinet secretaries (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The president and the vice president of the United States are elected by the citizens and serve a maximum of two terms (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The cabinet secretaries are the heads of different US Government Departments and are appointed by the President and approved by the Congress before assuming office. The core mandate of the executive branch is to enforce and implement laws and orders in the public domain for smooth and safe running of the country (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The office of the US president, vice president is, and the entire cabinet works in unison in serving the public interest and expectations. Worth noting, the office of the president has the power to appoint members of the supreme courts, federal courts and many other senior posts within the Government but with the approval of the Senate (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014).
As the Head of state and the commander in chief of the US armed forces, the president is task with protecting the lives of each and every American citizen from external and internal threats (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The president negotiates treaties and other bilateral agreements with other like-minded countries but with the interest of the American electorate at heart. The members of the Cabinet advises the President on the performance of different sectors of the economy and suggest the best course of actions necessary for achieving the economic growth and development (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014).
The legislature constitute of two houses of the Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The core duty of the legislative branch is to enact the relevant laws of the land that are documented, debated and subjected to voting in the Congress (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The US Citizen directly votes the congress men and women of the United States are straightforwardly accountable to the community. The Senate is headed by the US vice president, though with no voting powers but only in the case of a tie. After the US president has nominated members of its cabinet, the vice president presents the list to the Senate for approval or disapproval (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014).
All treaties are passing through the Senate, for instance, must be ratified by two-thirds majority votes to be considered viable under the law. Consisting of 100 men and women, the assembly works in unison with the executive checking of its excesses to ensure that the executive branch performs its core mandates to the public domain (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). Similarly, the US House of Representatives consisting of 435 members elected by the people and serving a maximum of two terms is an important component of the legislative branch. The speaker of the House, who is elected by the members of the House of Representatives, is considered as the head of the House of Representatives (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014)
The legislative branch of Government makes all laws of the land, can declare a war when deemed necessary to protect the interest of the United States of America. Ai addition, the Legislature is mandated with ensuring that the interstates, the foreign commercial laws, and the US taxes and expenditure policy guidelines are regulated (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The last branch is the Judiciary that is mandated with overseeing the US court and law systems to ensure that the United States of America operates within the realm of order and mutual cooperation. The Supreme Court heads the judiciary and is tasked with interpretation of the US Constitution (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The US President nominates the members of the Supreme Court and submitted to the Senate for approval. Being the most influential and the highest court on the American soil, the members of the Supreme Court has no term limits and any decision made in the Supreme Court is considered the final determination (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The directions and decisions made by the Supreme Court cannot be overruled by any other court in the United States and sets precedents (different and entirely new way of interpreting the constitution and other laws).
The three branches of Government counter check each other to ensure that only the interest of the public is served in the best way possible. The three branches are under thorough public scrutiny to check and balance the powers of the systems (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). For instance, the President of the United States is directly answerable to the public who can choose to consider them for reelection depending on the delivery of their promises and election pledges. The separation of power under the three branches of Government operates smoothly in ensuring that the citizen’s rights and core values are protected from any excesses or abuse of authority (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). In a nutshell, the legislative branch is tasked with making laws through the Congress while the executive branch implements and enforce these laws enacted by the legislature. The Judiciary is then mandated with in-depth evaluation and interpretation of these legislation and the constitution to ensure that such laws remain relevant and viable (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014).
The decisions made by any of the three branches of Government in one way or the other affects the other branches and must be consultative (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). In ensuring effective public policy implementations, the three branches must work together, though often so difficult and challenging. Appropriate guidelines and protocols can be put in place to check on the working relationship and cooperation between the branches. This demands higher levels of accountability and decorum in the service provisions and delivery to ensure that the confidence and good will of the public is restored and maintained (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). However, all the three branches can efficiently keep each other under checks and balances to ensure that the interest of the electorate is protected. For instance, the US President (the executive) can decide and veto a law passed by the Legislature (Congress) (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). The recent threat by US President to veto the immigration laws is an obvious example of the change of acts between the congress and the executive. In the same way, the Congress may refuse the president’s proposed appointments to different offices and in extreme cases only, can initialize a vote of no confidence in the executive (the president). Correspondingly, the Judiciary through the Supreme Courts can in exceptional instances overturn a law passed by the Congress (legislature) or vetoed by the president as unconstitutional (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014). Worth noting, most members and judges at the Supreme Court are the United States President appointees and are approved by the house of Senate. Through such self-systems of checks and balances, the US Federal Government is seeking to act in the most desirable interests of the majority of the US Citizens (Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin Pagie, 2014).
Work cited
Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin I. Pagie. “Testing theories of American politics: Elites, interest groups, and average citizens.” Perspectives on Politics 12.03 (2014): 564-581.
Kelleher, Christine A., and Jennifer Wolak. “Explaining public confidence in the branches of state government.” Political Research Quarterly 60.4 (2007): 707-721.