The System of Checks & Balances By James Madison

Why did James Madison create checks and balances, and how does it work to accomplish this goal?

The system of checks and balances was designed to moderate the process of decision making. It was a need for limitation of the power of Congress. Federalists were focused on the use of the system of checks and balances to ensure that the government is kept from getting too powerful in one branch. James Madison, one of the founding fathers of American government, was interested in division of power. According to researchers, “at the urging of James Madison, the delegates became convinced that a system of checks and balances would be necessary if separate, coordinate branches of government were to be maintained” (Stephens & Scheb 9). According to Madison, power should be not only divided, checked and balanced, but also limited to avoid institution of tyranny of the majority. 

Currently, the system of checks and balances works well to accomplish the established goals.  None of the institutions dominates the government. The popular majority has no opportunity to have control of the Congress and the presidency. The key characteristic of the system of checks and balances is  that there are differences in lengths of terms for the Senators, the members of the House and the President. For example, the members of the House are elected every 2 years, Senators are elected every 6 years, the President is elected every four years. The difference in lengths of terms is created to avoid giving an opportunity to the majority to control the government. Besides, the system of checks and balances requires that all branches must be consulted. This is the key requirement that is fully fulfilled in the US government.  For example, Obama’s plan to strengthen the US military involvement in Iraq and Syria to combat terrorism required consultation with the Congress. However, this issue was covered in the media as a debatable issue because of the inconsistency of the president’s decision. In this case, the US Constitution requires that the members of the Congress must vote on the use of military force. The President has no right to make this decision without the Congress’s consultation and approval (Nichols). 

Works Cited

Nichols, John. “Obama’s Plan for Military Action Requires Congressional Checks and Balances,” The Nation, Sept. 11, 2014. Available from:<https://www.thenation.com/article/presidents-plan-military-action-requires-congressional-checks-and-balances/> 

Stephens, Otis H. & Scheb, John  M. American Constitutional Law: Sources of Power and Restraint, Volume 1., Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

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freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
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"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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