Running head: POLITICAL SCIENCE 1

Constitution

September 4, 2012
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There is only one source of power, namely the central or national government, in the

unitary system of government, which is currently the most common form of government in

the world. Despite the fact that democracy can thrive in both systems, the differences

between the two types of state power are obvious and significant.

The principle of separation of powers was introduced by the U.S. Constitution in

1787. The founding fathers (Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay) developed

a classical model. They complemented it with the model of vertical separation of powers,

that is, by means of division of powers between the federal and the state governments.

The laws of the national government, which is located in Washington, DC, are applied

to any person residing within the boundaries of the state, while the laws of each of the 50

states are applied only to people residing in the territory of the relevant state. According to

the U.S. Constitution, the Congress has the authority to cancel a state law, but the state cannot

assume the powers relating exclusively to the national government. Under American

Federalism, the U.S. Constitution is the source of authority for the national government and

for the state government. This document, in its turn, reflects the will of the American people,

the highest authority in democracy.

The separation of powers in the USA is based not only on the system of checks and

balances, but also on a certain experience of the state construction (the period of colonial

dependence and independence). Therefore, the system of checks and balances in the USA has

the features reflecting the specific conditions (economic, political, etc.) of the country.

Separation of powers divides power among the executive, legislative, and

judicial branches as distinct departments of American national government.

This endows several different institutions - the Congress, the executive branch,

and the judicial branch - with the ability to influence the nations agenda and

affect decisions. This also establishes a system of checks and balances in

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which power is divided to ensure that no one branch becomes predominant

(Federalism and The Separation of Powers: 2011).

In a federal state, the central government fulfills certain functions and has full

sovereignty in the field of foreign policy. The performance of functions in the field of

domestic policy is rather complicated. In accordance with the Constitution of the United

States, the government has the exclusive power to regulate the interstate commerce and

foreign trade, money issues, addressing the naturalization of immigrants, maintenance of the

army and navy, as well as other issues.

References
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Federalism and the Separation of Powers. (2012). American Government. Available at:

http://wwnorton.com/college/polisci/american-government12/brief/ch/03/outline.aspx

Kelly, M. (2012). Checks and Balances. Defining Governmental Authority. American

History.