Branches of the federal government
Identify the origins of the check and balance concept.
Explain the importance and use of this concept in creating our political framework.
Identify and provide a thorough explanation of a particular checking process between the branches of the federal government.
You may, for example, explain how a law is made, how foreign policy is made or how a military action is taken and include how each branch checks the power of the other branches.
Remember that checks work both ways, so be sure to explain how in this particular case one branch checks the others and visa versa.
Consider both constitutional as well as extra-constitutional powers in this particular checking process.
Also sure to include in your explanation a specific real life example which illustrates this particular check/balance (such as a current law, treaty).
The Framers wrote these concepts of separation and checks and balances into the Constitution, but these ideas or concepts did not originate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. As you conduct your research for your term paper, be sure to investigate the origins which date back to the Greek city states. Also take note that our Framers were greatly influenced by many of the Enlightenment thinkers, such as Baron de Montesquieu and his work “The Spirit of the Laws”. You should find that it was James Madison who defends these concepts in the Federalist Papers.
Madison famously writes that “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” He then goes on to defend the necessity for checks and balances by saying that
In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficult is this: You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.
General Guidelines
You must conduct research and cite at least 2 credible sources (in addition to the textbook and lecture – Wikipedia is NOT considered a credible source)
Provide both in-text and well as a Works Cited for your sources.
If you need help, check out the Purdue Owl
(Links to an external site.)
website.
MLA style is preferred.
You must write a college level paper with a thesis, complete paragraphs and a conclusion.
Do not just provide a long list of powers but rather provide well written paragraphs explaining the process.
Do not write in the first person (I, me, my, we)
Check for grammatical errors.
Your paper should be 7-10 pages (double-spaced).
Save your paper as either a Microsoft Word document (.doc; .docx) or Adobe (.pdf) file. Cloud files (such as Google) ARE NOT compatible and therefore are not accepted. You must download your “cloud” file and save in a compatible file format.
Submit your file in the Turnitin – Final Project: Term Paper link by the due date.
