There is only one source of power, namely the central or national government, during the unitary system of government that is currently the most common form of government in the world. Despite the fact that democracy can thrive in both systems, the differences between the two types of state power are obvious and significant.
The principle of the separation of powers was introduced by the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The “founding fathers” (Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay) developed a classical model. They complemented it with the model of the “vertical” separation of powers, that is, by means of the division of powers between the federal and the state governments.
The laws of the national government, which is located in Washington, DC, are applied to any person residing within the boundaries of the state, while the laws of each of the 50 states are applied only to people residing in the territory of the relevant state. According to the U.S. Constitution, the Congress has the authority to cancel a state law, but the state cannot assume the powers relating exclusively to the national government. Under American Federalism, the U.S. Constitution is the source of authority for the national government and for the state government. This document, in its turn, reflects the will of the American people, the highest authority in democracy.
The separation of powers in the USA is constructed not only on the system of checks and balances, but also on a certain experience of the state construction (the period of colonial dependence and independence). Therefore, the system of checks and balances in the USA has the features, reflecting the specific conditions (economic, political, etc.).
“Separation of powers divides power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches as distinct departments of American national government. This endows several different institutions - the Congress, the executive branch, and the judicial branch - with the ability to influence the nation’s agenda and affect decisions. This also establishes a system of checks and balances in which power is divided to ensure that no one branch becomes predominant” (“Federalism and The Separation of Powers: 2011).
foreign policy. The execution of powers in the field of domestic policy is rather complicated. In accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the government has the exclusive power to regulate the interstate commerce and foreign trade, money issues, addressing the naturalization of immigrants, maintenance of the army and navy, as well as other issues.
References
“Federalism and the Separation of Powers”. (2012). American Government. Available at: HYPERLINK "http://wwnorton.com/college/polisci/american-government12/brief/ch/03/o utline.aspx" http://wwnorton.com/college/polisci/american-government12/brief/ch/03/ou tline.aspx
Kelly, M. (2012). “Checks and Balances. Defining Governmental Authority”. American History.
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POLITICAL …