The Branches of Government

Even at the beginning of this young nations existence the people within it have fought for the right of equal say. Many of the U.S.A.'s most important decisions were made by a group of people who went by majority rule, but gave everyone who wished to right to voice their own opinions. In 1776 the Continental Congress finally adopted the Declaration of Independence showing that they as a body of people did not want to be ruled by one leader of any kind instead they developed a system of a republic where a monarch did not reign, but instead the people get a say in what happens regarding the government. Whether it be by voting in politicians who make decisions for everyone or setting up a national assembly the people are given ample oppertunity to have some effect on how their country is run. The developement of the Constitiution of the United States of America was a long process for the 55 deligates of the various states. It was finally completed on September 17, 1787 and was enforced in the year 1789. Written in the Constitution was the entire framework of the new nation. It states all of the rules and regulations of the central government and leaves certain powers for only the state governments.
The articles express the abilities of the three branches of government: The Legislative, the Judicial, and the Exectutive branches. Each branch has its own designated power, which includes checks and balances. The Legislative branch has the most influence on governemnt power because it is the word of the people. The Executive branch does not have as much power because the framers of the Constitiution did not want America to seem like a monarchy. The more power means the more checks and balances the branch has. Here are some examples of the Legislatures checks on the Executive branch: the impeachment power of the House, impeachment trials of the Senate, the Presidential selection for the House and Vice Presidential selection for the Senate (only in the case where there is no majority of electoral votes), they can override Presidential vetoes, the Senate approves departmental appointments, treaties and ambassadors, they have approval to replace the Vice President, they have the power to declare war, the power to enact taxes and allocate funds, and they make sure that the President occasionally delivers a State of the Union address. The Legislative checks on the Judiciary include: the Senate approves the federal judges, the House has Power of Impeachment, and the Senate controls the Trial of impeachments, the power to initiate constitutional amendments, the power to set courts inferior to the Supreme Court, the power to set jurisdiction of courts, the power to alter the size of the Supreme Court. It is because the legislative branch is bicameral, the it has a degree of self checking. Bills must be passed by both houses of Congress, House must originate revenue bills, Neither house may adjourn for more, than three days without the consent of the other house, All journals must be published. Now the Executive Branch also has checks on the Legislature just to name a few: The president has the power to veto, the Vice President resides over the Senate, he is Commander in chief of the military, makes recess appointments, can innitial emergency calling into session of one or both houses of Congress, he may force adjournment when both houses cannot agree nor a Compensation can be diminished. There are more but these are most of the checks and balances between the two main branches.
http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_cnb.html

James Monroe was the fifth president of the United States from 1817 to 1825. Towards the earlier part of his presidency began an "Era of Good Feelings." Sadlt these "good feelings" did not last, despite that Monroe followed nationalist policie. A terrible economic depression undoubtedly increased the alarm of the people in the Missouri Territory in the year 1819 when they were turned down from trying to enter into the Union as a slave state. A bill amended gradually eliminated slavery in Missouri, which brought on two years of bitter debate in Congress. The Missouri Compromise bill fixed the issue. In the end slavery was diminished north and west of Missouri. Monroe proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine, responding to the threat of more governments in Europe possibly trying to help Spain by taking back her former colonies in the western hemisphere. Monroe and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams wanted to stay away from trouble with Spain before it ceded Florida, which it did in 1821. Secretary Adams advised, "It would be more candid ... to avow our principles explicitly to Russia and France, than to come in as a cock-boat in the wake of the British man-of-war." Monroe listened to Adams's advice. Not only Latin America be left alone, but Russia must not move southward on the Pacific coast. ". . . the American continents," he stated, "by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European Power." Basically, the two most important points in Monroe's presidential terms were the Missouri Compromise and the Monroe Docterine (given the name 20 years after his death.
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/jamesmonroe/p/pmonroe.htm
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jm5.htm

Later on there was a president who went by the name James Knox Polk who was in office from 1845-1849. He is known as the first "dark horse" President, was the last of the Jacksonians to sit in the White House, and the last capable President until the Civil War. Polk was the candidate who aimed for expansion. He linked the Texas issue with the Oregon issue which attracted both the North and south. Polk also favored acquiring California. Polk amy have also had to deal with the possibility of war with Mexico over Texas, even before he could take office because Congress passed a joint resolution offering annexation to Texas. The President seemed to be risking war with Great Britain also over Oregon. Extremists proclaimed "Fifty-four forty or fight," but Polk was aware of diplomatic realities. He knew that anything short of war was less likely to get all of Oregon. Fortunately, neither he nor the British wanted a war. So he offered a compromise by extending the Canadian boundary along the 49th parallel from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. After a few disagreements the British settled for the 49th parallel (excluding the southern tip of Vancouver Island). The treaty for the seperation of Oregon Country was signed in 1846. Getting California was far more difficult. Polk offered Mexico up to $20,000,000 and settlement of damage claims owed to Americans for California and the New Mexico country. No Mexican leader could sell half his country and still stay in power therefore they wanted no part of the deal. To pressure the Mexicans Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to the disputed area on the Rio Grande. The Mexican attacked Taylor's forces. Congress then declared war and despite Northern opposition they supported the military operations. Finally, in 1848, Mexico ceded New Mexico and California. Mexico received $15,000,000 and American assumption of the damage claims. President Polk annexed a large area to the United States, but it further aggitated a bitter quarrel between the North and the South over slavery expansion. in leaving office Polk shortly died afterward due to the emmense stress of being president after all, "No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure" (James K. Polk).

http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/james_knox_polk/ http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jp11.html