Introduction
The first iteration of the American Constitution was vastly different from the present version, and this change was possible due to a complex but efficient political system. In the United States, there is a distinct separation between judicial, legislative, and executive powers to restrict the amount of political influence of one of the branches. In addition, the government employs a multi-tiered process of creating laws to ensure that only appropriate bills can become laws. The present essay overviews these fundamental concepts and provides examples to explain the complexity of the American political system.
Separation of Powers
In politics, separation of powers frequently refers to the division between legislative, judicial, and executive branches. As Kowal and Codrington (2021) note, this system was established to “prevent dangerous concentrations of power” (p. 10). In other words, neither branch should have sufficient political influence to change American society drastically.
Presently, the legislative group includes the Senate and the House of Representatives, and its primary responsibility is the creation of laws, tax control, and declaration of war (Kowal & Codrington, 2021). The executive branch consists of the President, whose primary purpose is to enforce legislative acts (Kowal & Codrington, 2021). Lastly, the judicial branch includes the Supreme Court, which assesses laws based on the Constitution and makes definitive conclusions.
It is essential to note that while this system is generally efficient to prevent the concentration of power in one branch, it is not perfect. Bowie and Renan (2021) note that it can lead to conflicts between influential groups, negatively impacting society. Moreover, the concept of the separation of powers has changed significantly since 1787, with various instruments to veto legislation of other branches (Bowie & Renan, 2021).
The authors imply that continuous research is necessary to improve the system and ensure equality in American society. Moreover, Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court already had excessive political power at various national history periods, leading to even more intense conflicts and rivalry (Kowal & Codrington, 2021). In summary, while the separation of power ensures that no single branch has too much influence, advancing the system to promote justice is essential.
Creation of Laws
The creation of laws is a complex process consisting of six primary steps. This procedure is best explained with examples, such as the INSPIRE Women Act, which became law in 2017 (Congress, n.d.). First, the bill is introduced in the House of Representatives or the Senate by a Congress member – Barbara Comstock, in this case (Congress, n.d.). Secondly, relevant committees of Congress carefully analyze the act to determine its appropriateness as law. Consequently, the bill must pass the first of the Congress legislative bodies, the House of Representatives, on the 10th of January 2017, in this case (Congress, n.d.).
After that, the procedure was repeated in the Senate, which was finished on the 14th of February 2017 (Congress, n.d.). In the fifth step, both bodies of Congress examine the bill and adjust it if necessary. Lastly, the President signs the bill, and the enforced act becomes law, which occurred on 28th February 2017 in the case of the INSPIRE Women Act (Congress, n.d.). The explained process is the standard procedure for creating laws in the United States.
Conclusion
The United States political system is complex, consisting of three primary branches that ensure an equal power balance among the jurisdictive bodies. Each group has unique responsibilities regarding creating laws, including making, enacting, and evaluating legislative acts. The former is primarily done by Congress, as demonstrated by the INSPIRE Women Act (2017). Ultimately, the present essay thoroughly overviewed the legislative structure in the United States and provided an example of the creation of the law.
References
Bowie, N., & Renan, D. (2021). The separation-of-powers counterrevolution. Yale Law Journal, 131(7).
Congress. (n.d.). H.R.321 – Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act. Congress.Gov. Web.
Kowal, J. F., & Codrington, W. U. (2021). The people’s Constitution: 200 years, 27 amendments, and the promise of a more perfect union. The New Press.