Help......?

Question

Why are checks and balances important?How do they help each branch of the federal government make more thoughtful decisions

Answer 1

Checks and balances are not a unique American invention, they are a solid part of the legacy of the Enlightenment which the American founding fathers had the wisdom to draw upon.

They realised that tyranny (though ironically as a British colony Americans enjoyed a very benevolent 'tyranny') emerges from powerful government, and that power begets more power. No organisation ever seeks to reduce its power... so how to control this trend? How to make their dream of a government responsive to the will of the (while, moneyed, male) people avoid this seeming inevitable tendency to central control?

The answer was to break it up, and do everything possible to prevent amalgamation of the arms of power. These roles had to be rigidly defined and the power of each branch to control the other had to be carefully controlled- so the check was meaningful, but not overwhelming. Conflict between the arms had to be put in place, because questioning leads to exposure of weakness and introduction of improvement, but controlled so it did not lead to violence or deadlock.

Quite a challenge, but fortunately they had solid British (Magna Carta) and French (enlightenment) traditions to draw on.

Answer 2

The one thing the founders and framers of the USA were more worried about than anything else was tyranny - the ability of anyone or any group to exert unchecked power on others.

So no one branch of government has power over the others. Bills from Congress have to be signed by the president and can be challenged by the Supreme Court. The president appoints members of the Supreme Court but they are confirmed by the Senate, etc.

The whole purpose to make sure no one branch has total power over the others.

Answer 3

They help by not doing someone else's homework.

Answer 4

John B summed it all up!