English 32

RI:8 Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including
the application of constitutional principles and use of legal reasoning (e.g.,
in U.S. Supreme Court majority opinions and dissents) and the premises,
purposes, and arguments in works of public advocacy (e.g., The Federalist,
presidential addresses).

1. Separation of Powers

Powers are divided among three branches of the government:

Legislative (Congress, which is further divided into a House of Representatives and Senate Executive (President) Judicial (Supreme Court and other courts)

2. Checks and Balances

Each branch of government needs another branch to function. One branch cannot do much by itself.

3. Federal Form

Sovereignty is divided between the national government and the state governments.

4. Presidential Form

The chief executive (the President) is elected separately from the legislative branch (Congress).

5. Mixed Government

The framers of the Constitution wanted to include the best aspects of three forms of government:

Democracy, rule by the common people: House of Representatives Aristocracy, rule by aristocrats, the intelligent, educated, wealthy: Senate Monarchy, rule by a king or queen: President

6. Limited Powers

All powers of the government must come directly or indirectly from the Constitution. To reinforce this limitation, the Bill of Rights (first 10 Amendments) was added in 1791.