Which statement best describes the framework of government established by the Constitution?
The United States Constitution establishes a federal system of government based on the principle of limited government with a separation of powers among three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
The legislative branch, or Congress, is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, with members of both bodies elected by the people. Congress is tasked with making laws.
The executive branch is headed by the President, who is elected by the people through an Electoral College. The President is responsible for enforcing laws and conducting the nation's foreign affairs.
The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court, and includes lower federal courts. The courts interpret the laws and the Constitution and evaluate cases that may arise under them.
The Constitution provides a system of checks and balances, whereby each branch of government has some measure of influence over the other branches and may choose to block procedures of the other branches, to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.
Furthermore, the Constitution delineates a clear separation of powers and responsibilities between the federal government and the states, leading to a system of federalism. Certain powers are reserved to the states, others are reserved to the federal government, and some are shared between the two.
The Constitution can be amended, a process that requires significant consensus, ensuring that changes reflect a broad level of agreement across the American polity. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified shortly after the Constitution itself and guarantee fundamental rights and liberties to individuals.
This framework strives to balance the need for an effective central government with the protection of individual liberties and state rights.