Federalism is the balance of power between the federal government and smaller governing bodies. The US is a federal constitutional presidential republic with power constitutionally enforced at the federal level. The balance of power is segmented into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. States share power with municipalities and have a governor instead of a president. The legislative branch is bicameral, and the judicial branch interprets laws and overturns unconstitutional ones.
Balance of power is the concept by which a government is organized to provide some level of control between the federal government and smaller governing bodies such as states or provinces. In general this concept is known as federalism. This balance of power can be predominantly shifted to the central government or to smaller bodies depending on the particular structure the nation has chosen.
The United States is considered a type of federation known as a federal constitutional presidential republic. This means that the power is constitutionally enforced at the federal level and leaves it up to the states to decide how they wish to make laws at the divisional level. Using a representative democracy, citizens elect spokesmen who perform legislative and executive functions. According to the country’s constitution, the federal government can only act on certain aspects predetermined by law, while all other matters must be handled by the states.
Much of the structure of federal government in the United States is set up to provide additional checks and balances in order to prevent the system from abusing authority. The balance of power is segmented into three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. States also share a certain level of power with municipalities within their borders. Cities and towns elect local officials who control centralized state power.
At the federal level, the executive branch is headed by the President of the United States. He or she is aided by a vice president who oversees the Senate. The president also appoints a cabinet, Supreme Court justices, and other officials with administrative functions. Many of these are subject to Senate approval. In regards to power, the president serves as the commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces and has the right to issue executive orders. The rest of the branch can set policy and enforce laws.
The legislative branch is constituted as a bicameral Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senators serve six-year terms, while representatives serve two-year terms. Each state is issued two senators and a proportional number of representatives based on population. Congress has the right to make federal laws, control the financial activities of the nation, approve treaties with foreign bodies, impeach executive and judicial members, and declare war.
The judicial branch of the United States is the third piece of the federal balance of power, designed to interpret laws made by Congress and overturn those it deems unconstitutional. The entire system consists of the Supreme Court and several federal courts across the country. Members are generally benched for life without being elected by the citizens.
To ensure a balance of power, state governments use a nearly identical system, with the exception of Nebraska, which uses a unicameral legislature. Instead of a president, however, states have a powerful position in the executive branch known as the governor. Depending on the state, judges and cabinet officials are elected by popular vote, while others are appointed by the executive. States generally have recourse to sue the federal government for violations of constitutional rights through the federal court system. Also, the fact that the legislative branch is selected by each state gives the citizens of the constituency the right to appeal through elections.
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