2 In 1776, the American colonies declared their independence from England. Thirteen fiercely independent states banded together to become a new country. However, there were many issues to resolve in order to form a strong country. Each state had its own form of self-government. They made their own laws, coined their own money, and were concerned about their individual interests. The oppression from England united the states with a common purpose - freedom. However, they were fearful of creating a government that would return them to the same tyranny they had endured from England.
3 The first government in the United States was formed under The Articles of Confederation. In 1777, the states sent delegates to a convention to put together a plan for a unified country. Together, they wrote a document that would establish a central government with a legislative congress to make laws. For four years, the states debated these articles. Finally, in 1781, they were approved by all thirteen states. The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government. It failed to give the new government the power to collect taxes, establish a military, form courts, or make the states obey the laws made in the legislative congress. The results were disastrous. The economy became chaotic. States began to fight over boundaries and levy taxes on each other. The new, weak government proved ineffective in uniting the states. (http://edhelper.com/ReadingComprehension_34_71.html) This site talks about how after we declared our independence from england, we were 13 independent states with our own types of money and government. Our first real form of government for our whole country(13 colonies) was the Articles of Confederation. It gave more power to the state then the government, states didnt have to pay national taxes or give soldiers to the army.
Legislative Branch
- Checks on the Executive
- Impeachment power (House)
- Trial of impeachments (Senate)
- Selection of the President (House) and Vice President (Senate) in the case of no majority of electoral votes
- May override Presidential vetoes
- Senate approves departmental appointments
- Senate approves treaties and ambassadors
- Approval of replacement Vice President
- Power to declare war
- Power to enact taxes and allocate funds
- President must, from time-to-time, deliver a State of the Union address
- Checks on the Judiciary
- Senate approves federal judges
- Impeachment power (House)
- Trial of impeachments (Senate)
- Power to initiate constitutional amendments
- Power to set courts inferior to the Supreme Court
- Power to set jurisdiction of courts
- Power to alter the size of the Supreme Court
- Checks on the Legislature - because it is bicameral, the Legislative branch has a degree of self-checking.
- Bills must be passed by both houses of Congress
- House must originate revenue bills
- Neither house may adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other house
- All journals are to be published
Executive Branch
- Checks on the Legislature
- Veto power
- Vice President is President of the Senate
- Commander in chief of the military
- Recess appointments
- Emergency calling into session of one or both houses of Congress
- May force adjournment when both houses cannot agree on adjournment
- Compensation cannot be diminished
- Checks on the Judiciary
- Power to appoint judges
- Pardon power
- Checks on the Executive
- Vice President and Cabinet can vote that the President is unable to discharge his duties
Judicial Branch
- Checks on the Legislature
- Judicial review
- Seats are held on good behavior
- Compensation cannot be diminished
- Checks on the Executive
- Judicial review
- Chief Justice sits as President of the Senate during presidential impeachment
- (http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_cnb.html)
This site tells about how our government is split into different branches and they check on eachother to keep the power fair. This is know as Checks and Balance's. Each branch can challenge eachother's power, which is what the checks and balances is all about.
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