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Vivienne Scott

Ms. Diane Nicoll

8th Grade History

October 30, 2017

The American Government

The government has many different ways of balancing their power out, so that it does not

become corrupt and the people feel heard. Describe the principles of Federalism, dual

sovereignty, seperation of powers, checks and balances, the nature and purpose of majority rule,

and the ways in which the American idea of constitutionalism preserves individual rights. Dual

Soverignty and Seperation of powers helps keep the government from getting corrupt. Checks

and Balances and Majority rule let everyone’s voice be heard in the government and Federalism

uses these strategies in a type of government. Dual Soverignty and Seperation of powers are two

very important things that need to happen in the American Government.

Dual Soverignty and Seperation of Powers are extremely important for the country to

function. NCSL states “Separation of powers, therefore, refers to the division of government

responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions

of another.” This explains seperation of powers, although, Dual Soverignty is also important.

Dual Soverignty is the idea that responsibilities are shared between the states and the federal

government. An example of this is that the Federal government has to Establish post offices, but

the state goverment has to run schools. Seperation of powers means the state and federal

government have split powers and also share some of them. For example, the federal government

gets to declare war, while the states run the elections. Both the state and the federal government
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gets to regulate banks. These are very important because if one person or group had to many

powers, they would become overhwelmed, or corrupt with so much power. These are very

important ideas along with checks and balances.

Checks and Balances and Majority Rule help protect individual rights. Checks and

Balances is a system where the power and responsibilities of the government is balanced out by

different branches of the government. There is the Legistlative Branch, the Executive Branch and

the Judicial branch. Congress for kids states “By creating three branches of government, the

delegates built a "check and balance" system into the Constitution. This system was built so that

no one branch of our government could become too powerful.” Checks and Balances help keep

the government from getting corrupt. For example, the legistlative branch makes laws, but the

executive branch can veto the laws, and the supreme court interperts the laws. Majority rule

helps make decisions while preserving individual rights. It preserves individual rights by not

letting the government oppress the minority. The constitution preserves individual rights by not

letting the government oppress minorities and using the system of checks and balances. These

are very important laws, and Federalism is too.

Federalism is a value and type of government system that splits up power. As American

Government states, “The maze of national and state regulations results from federalism — the

decision made by the Founders to split power between state and national governments.”

Federalsim is the idea that the central government should hold the overall power, and the states

should maintain the power. It also says that states can do whatever they want, as long as it does

not conflict with the governments laws and beliefs. It started in 1787 and is still used today. We

use Federalism because it allows for more participation on government, avoiding tyranny, and to
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use the states to create new ideas and programs. Federalsim is a very interesting and vital to our

government today.

Dual Soverignty and Seperation of powers are extremely important so the government

doesn’t get corrput. Checks and Balances and majority rule help protect individual rights by

giving everybody a voice. Federalism is also a type of government that could help protect

individual rights. The American government protects individuals rights in many different ways.
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Works Cited

Warnock. “Separation of Powers -- An Overview.” ​Separation of Powers--An Overview​,

www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/separation-of-powers-an-overview.aspx.

“Checks And Balances.” ​Congress for Kids: [Constitution]: Checks and Balances​.

“Federalism.” ​Ushistory.org​, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/gov/3.asp.