Adaora Separation of Powers

Adaora Ekwunife

October 1, 2015

AP Gov

Gordon

Essay

The theory of separate powers is a cure to blocking factional control because it prevents tyranny by not one group can control everything. Tyranny is the arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority. The three branches of the federal government are Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Many people feared the idea of the government having too much control and to prevent this checks and balances were established. Other branches are able to use their powers and keep other branches in check. Every branch has specific duties and don’t have the power to change everything they please. The purpose of the separation of powers is to avoid tyranny between the branches and equally distribute power.

The three branches of the federal government are Executive Legislative, and Judicial.Separate powers is a cure to blocking factional control because the branches are able to use their powers to keep other branches in check. In Federalist No. 10, James Madison stated, “There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: The one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects,” meaning that the possibility of a tyranny needs to be minimized by controlling power. It is almost impossible to remove its causes which is why he states that the only way to remove the causes is to destroy liberty or give every citizen the same opinions. The three branches are able to balance each other out and validate security of the power distribution.

Every branch has specific duties and don’t have the power to change everything they please. The branches all have different types of duties. For example, the legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch carries out laws, and the judicial branch evaluates laws. These branches wouldn’t be able to pass ideas without the confirmation from the other two branches, preventing tyranny. Montesquieu  believed that the best way to secure liberty and prevent a government from becoming corrupted was to divide the powers of government among different actors who would check each other. By checking each other the branches successfully balance power between each other.

The theory of separate powers is a cure to blocking factional control because it prevents tyranny by not one group can control everything. Both Madison and Montesquieu believed that there should be a balance between powers. Separation of powers is a cure to blocking factional control because the three federal branches are able to use their powers to keep each other in check. Another way separation of powers blocks factional control is by giving different powers and duties to the different branches. Separation of powers has been very successful in balancing the powers between branches. The purpose of the separation of powers is to avoid tyranny between the branches and equally distribute power.