The constitution does not grant congress oversight responsibility but it does give congress the powers to make laws so oversight of congress has become an implied power. It is congresses' role to make law and see how it is working after it has passed through the houses and therefore they have given themselves a number of significant powers in order to carry this out. Subpoena documents, the illegality of lying to congress, and powers of impeachment are all examples of this. However the effectiveness of oversight is often called into question with some commentators. Most of congresses oversight comes from congressional committees as unlike in Britain congress cannot hold question time as the executive is not present in congress so it is only in committees that members of congress can directly question the executive.
The Executive Branch, which includes the president, is in charge of enforcing laws, the Legislative Branch controls making laws, and the Judicial Branch is a system of courts that interpret the laws created and enforced by the other branches. Hamilton stated as opposed to the Executive and Legislative branches of government, “...[The Judicial Branch] has no influence over the sword or the purse;” (Federalist #78) Because the Executive branch has the power to enforce law and the Legislative branch has the power to declare war and make laws, Hamilton argues that the Judicial branch is the least dangerous. Although I believe the Judicial branch has many positive aspects, I agree with Hamilton’s argument
I personally say that strength is not given but earned by what you do to get others to approve your intensions. In other words, strengths and weakness depends on a personal capacity to influence the conduct of those in government. Power seems to be based on how influential or persuasive one can be. However, I also think that no matter how much the President tries to get what he wants during his term, the President will never be the most powerful man in the country. He is always sharing his power due to the checks and balances system.
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This led to disputes amongst the states that could not be readily settled, as it relied on each state’s court system which invariably chose to discount the ruling of the other states. The Constitution, under article III section I, allowed for a central court system, including one Supreme Court and a system of lower courts. This would alleviate the dissention in the AoC court system and allow for cases to be heard and decided based on a central system of
It all began with James Madison who was, “considered the “Father of the Constitution,” and believed that strict limits on federal power were best for liberty. Powers of the federal government which were not enumerated in the Constitution were forbidden” (“Constitutional” 1). This is how society should be today, where the federal government is restricted to enacting on the laws solely stated in the constitution. Now many presidents and high authority leaders began to follow this idea. With all other powers off limits to the federal government, they didn’t get too powerful.
Furthermore, neither the Prime Minister, nor the cabinet signs a bill once it has been passed; rather the Governor General signs the bill. The parliamentary bill to law process is superior to that of the congressional process, because the American system, creates inefficiencies due to the all or nothing veto which the President has. Furthermore, this all or nothing veto system; creates what is called Omnibus legislation. Which is where several bills are bundled together; therefore, if the President really wants a bill to pass he or she may have to also accept a number of unrelated bills. Essentially, a President may be enacting a bill into a law, for which they know nothing about.
By creating a government divided into the presidential, legislative, and judicial branches meant that no one’s power could come into absolute power. There is however a downside to having three branches of government. If there is a democratic president and one of the branches is a republican run branch they may not agree on some of the same ideas. When we have different branches vetoing bills and not making them laws this in turn affects the citizens who may need the change. Checks and Balances The system of checks and balances is part of our constitution.
Also, when Congress passes a piece of legislation, the do not technically have the authority to enforce this legislation. That remains in the hands of the Judicial and Executive branches. And when dealing with the Legislative branch, you are surrounded by Senators and Representatives whose motives are often not pure, but are tainted by the financial backing of others, and each of their individual constituents. They are not always in these positions to benefit the whole of American society. The Judicial branch is made for the people, all of the people of the United States.
A state is closer in relationship to the U.S than a territory, but the federal government has more control its territories. State governments share power with the federal government and are allowed to create and enforce laws without approval from them. U.S. territories still have self-government, but they must abide by federal law and whatever laws they create themselves must first be approved by U.S. congress. Also, although we follow the United States and it leaders in office, territories are not allowed to vote. The U.S. many times ignores and leaves out its territories treating them as if they were a completely foreign