The government of the United States is a very complex condition. It was designed to try to create an environment of what is called “checks and balances” so that no particular side would have more power over another; and all would have the ability to have their voices heard and decisions made by those that didn’t have a political agenda of influence.
The various branches of government each carry some of the power but some may overrule others.
The founders of the U.S. had learned much from the various government types throughout history.
They then created the First Continental Congress as the first step to show the desire for independence, but it took the Second Continental Congress of July 4, 1776 to make the declaration of independence away from the British Empire.
At that time, the Declaration of Independence was written and included that all people shall have “certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
This was the cornerstone of belief of the government and these and other rights are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, which include the first ten amendments to the Constitution.
As time passed, additional amendments have been added as improvements for the rights of people which included voting rights and the abolishment of slavery.
It took a few years for the Constitution to be completely ratified or “agreed upon”, and this happened in 1788. The constitution became and continues to be the highest form of law in the U.S. and it is the foundation used for the federal government and the framework for all laws and decisions that are passed.
A major portion of the Constitution is to define that the government is made up of three different branches. They include: The Executive Branch, which is the President of the United States and his Cabinet; the Congress, which is the House and the Senate; and the Judicial Branch, which is the Supreme Court.
It was assumed that by creating three branches, it would offer a balance for logic and decisions.
The voting process in the U.S. has not always involved two specific political parties.
To avoid giving the President so much power that there was a chance to overtake the government, the President is given some power over the other two branches through the option of “veto” as well as the ability to appoint judges to the Supreme Court. In turn, Congress has the option of creating laws, and in specific cases, can remove the President from office through various levels of impeachment.
Congress also has the ability to approve or reject the President’s nominations for the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is supposed to be made up of individuals that are non-partisan or “non-political” so that they can have the final say in court cases or even declare some laws as unconstitutional.
All of these conditions are based on the assumption that one political party would not be in control of all of the branches of government. To have that situation happen would be similar to a government takeover as only one side would be in control.