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How effective is the US Constitution in achieving its aim of sharing power…
How effective is the US Constitution in achieving its aim of sharing power among different branches of government
Federalism
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Some policy such as immigration is made at federal level and voting requirements made at state level
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Bipartisanship
Attempts within Congress to ensure that the two main parties work together to fulfil congressional functions
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Ensures parties work together with the need of supermajorities and cross party support to pass amendments and for the senate to ratify
Becoming harder for bipartisanship due to polarisation between Republicans and Democrats and less likely to work together E.g 2012 Obama and John Boehner
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Checks and Balances
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Operates alongside Separation of Powers so that each government branch is forced to work together and share power and be interdependent
Powers are also shared by denying some powers , for example the president can suggest legislation but he cannot amend it as he lacks Line Item Veto
Founding Fathers feared an unrestricted president so gave Congress many checks to place on the Executive
Legislature can override presidential veto, refuse presidential appointments and impeach the president
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Limited Government
Role of the government is limited by checks and balances and separation of powers to defend against corruption
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Federal government has influence over social and economic policy E.g imposing federal income tax (16th amendment)
Bill of Rights ensures that individual rights and liberties are not restricted by the federal government by upholding the constitution