Separation of powers and checks and balances AND bill become law - Essay Example

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances The United s Constitution outlines the country’s basic functions of government. Within this context of understanding, the most fundamental aspects of this governmental structure are the separation of powers and the checks and balances that function within this separation. As rooted in the Constitution the separation of powers divides the structure of the American government into three parts: the executive branch, which constitutes the Presidency; the legislative branch, which constitutes the Senate and the House of Representatives; and the judicial branch, which constitutes the Supreme Court.

Each of these branches of government holds different powers. Another prominent aspect of this government structure is the system of checks and balances. In these regards, the system of checks and balances is such that each of the branches of government is structured to check and balance the powers of the opposing branches. There are a variety of instances in which this system of checks and balances work. In terms of the legislative branch, this function of government checks the executive branch through its ability to enact impeachment proceedings against the President; the legislative branch also oversees the judicial branch as it has the ability to oversee judges for committing crimes or unethical actions (Douglas).

In terms of the executive branch, the President holds veto power over bills based in the House and the Senate (Douglas). Finally, the judicial branch oversees the legislative branch through its ability to interpret laws passed by this branch of government (Douglas). How a Bill Becomes a Law A fundamental aspect of the American government is its fluid ability to pass and amend laws. The Constitution established the process where a bill becomes a law. The overarching process where a bill becomes a law occurs as a bill is brought to the House of Representatives ("U.S. Constitution") .

The Congress must agree on the law and pass it with majority approval. After the bill passes through Congress it is sent to the Senate where it also must be approved. After the bill passes the Senate it is then sent to the President. The President must sign the bill into law. If the President doesn’t support the bill he has a veto power. If the President decides to veto the bill, then it returns to Congress. Congress then has the option to override the veto if they are able to attain 2/3rds-voting support for the measure.

This is referred to as overriding a veto ("U.S. Constitution"). In addition to this overarching process of passing a bill into law, the Constitution establishes a number of other specific elements related to this process. One of the main considerations is where the bill can be submitted. In these regards, it’s noted that bills can originate from a variety of sources, but predominantly emerge from a member of Congress. Another prominent consideration is the nature of bills once they arrive in the House and Senate.

During this process, the House and Senate are divided into subcommittees that examine specific aspects of the American country. These subcommittees, such as Finance or Military Nuclear Weapons, then examine and vote on whether the bill should pass to the floor to be considered and voted upon ("U.S. Constitution"). References"Constitutional Topic: How a Bill Becomes a Law." U.S. Constitution. N.p., 2010. Web. 31 Oct 2011. .Douglas, Stevens, The Meaning of the Separation of Powers. New York: Templeton. 1965.