Nearing the Semiquincentennial – Part 2, A Look At Our Government

Limited Government is represented by Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances. When a single head of state has the last say in all decisions and cannot be overruled, then that ruler can become tyrannical. Some rulers that have no shared power can remain fair, however, separating the powers into separate entities ensures more fairness in decision-making. Our separation of powers includes the legislative [House of Representatives and Senate], the executive [President], and the judicial [Supreme Court] branches, and helps to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Each branch has the power to limit the other branches from having too much power and must operate within the parameters of the Constitution and its amendments. Checks and balances is a process in which the different branches, within their own Constitutional responsibilities, has the power to limit or influence the actions of the other branches. This intentional process helps to ensure accountability and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, promoting a more just and balanced governance.