I have a history essay Question!?

Question

Can anyone give me any ideas or try to help me off to a good start for this essay question?
How did our founding fathers make sure that one group or person did not become too powerful? (It has to do with checks and balances or something)
1. Tripartite Govt.
2. Checks and balances
3. Term limits (What are term limits?)
Oh my gosh i already failed the test but i dont wanna fail this essay! Please help. Thank you!

Answer 1

NOTE: This is not a "start", it is an explanation so that you can start on your own! I will suggest a topic sentence, and then the rest is up to you . . .

"The founding fathers were very aware of the dangers of a government that was too powerful and was not responsible to the people it governed."

The US federal government is split into three branches, and each branch does something different. No one branch is more powerful than another (in theory), and each branch is equally important. This helps keep one group or person from being too powerful because they can only be in one branch at a time and therefore only have power over one third of the government.

Each branch also "checks and balances" the powers of the others. An example of balance would be that the Executive branch nominates someebody to be in the Supreme Court, but the Legislative branch must approve the nomination. An example of check would be when the Legislative branch approves a bill (to become a law), but the Executive can stop it by veto. This helps keep one group or person from being too powerful because even though each group has its own power, the other groups have some control over how that power is exercised.

A term limit (in the case of the Constitution) is a limit on the amount of time a person can serve in a position before having to be elected. Term limits were intended to force elected officials to be responsible to the voters -- so if a Representative must be re-elected every two years, he or she better be doing a good job for the voters, or the job will be lost. This helps keep one group or person from being too powerful because they can not act only according to their wishes, but must act for the voters.

Answer 2

Term limits are the maximum time a person can serve in political office (ex. President can only serve two consecutive terms in office-8 years).
You may want to look at what is happening in this country right now to expand in your essay, regarding checks and balances.
What happens when the same political party controls all three?
How many republicans are on the supreme court/Congress/White house?
How are the checks and balances working out over the last 6 years?
Try to compare and contrast and incorporate current events. Teachers LOVE that.
It shows critical thinking

Answer 3

Well, there are three branches of government (tripartite): executive, legislative, judiciary...each responsible for different things, so that no particular branch has control over everything.
Term limits make sure no one person stays in power for too long.