Basic Principles of Government

Judicial Review is the power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of the actions of the legislative and executive branches of government. This means that each branch is subject to a number of constitutional checks by the other branches. ” At the same time, it has not very often stalled a close working relationship between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Checks and Balances are the powers held by one branch of government that allow it to limit another branch's exercise of its own powers, e. The are present in Article I, Section 8, it declares: “To define and punish piracies and felonies, committed on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations. They are set out in the 1st Amendment, which begins with the words: “Congress shall make no law…” it is also stated in Article 1, Section 9, which says: “…shall not be prohibited by the Congress…” This principle ensures that the government and its officers are always subject to-never above-the law. It has done what the Framers intended it do. In other words, each branch has certain powers with which it can check the operations and balance the power of the other two. In effect, the principle of limited government is the other side of the coin of popular sovereignty. In Article 1, Section 2, number 1, it declares: “…members chosen every second year by the people…”. The Constitution distributes the powers of the National Government among the Congress, the President, and the courts.