Constitution

RUNNING HEAD : Constitutional Law

The United States Constitution

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The first three articles of the United States Constitution hold the provisions that define the structure of American government . They divide governance into three branches : the legislative branch (known in practice as Congress , the executive branch (i .e . the Presidency ) and the judicial branch (manifest as the Supreme Court . Each branch possesses different powers not by mere accident of design , but with clear and purposeful intent . The structure of the government was determined as a

deliberate `separation of powers ' provided by the United States Constitution . It ensures that not one arm of the government possesses too much power , though it is important to note that the powers specific to each branch are not limited solely to the functional dimension of their roles but extend to an ability to restrict the abuse of branch-specific powers or wielding unnecessary influence upon one another (De Grazia , 1957

The ability of each branch to restrain one another is known as the system of checks and balances , wherein the powers of one branch are limited by the powers of another branch . For example , while the Presidency may be the executive branch of the federal government , the extent of its abilities - namely , those given to it for the purposes of ensuring the faithful execution of laws - are limited by the laws passed by Congress . Furthermore , it is a responsibility of Congress to investigate and oversee the activities of the executive branch , for...