The separation of governmental powers is one of the hallmarks of the American Constitutional system. In Britain and in the many other countries that follow the Westminster model, the executive, legislative and judicial functions are all handled, wholly or in important measure, by the single entity known as parliament. In the United States, however, a separate branch of government, namely the Presidency, the Congress and the Judiciary, carries out each of these functions. The three are interrelated; not only in the way they derive their power, but also in the way they exercise it. The President, senators and representatives are directly elected; judges and justices are appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate. Congre

ss can remove a President from office by impeachment for "high crimes and misdemeanors." All three branches can be involved in the formulation of laws; Congress must pass them, the President must sign or veto them and the courts are frequently called upon to adjudge their constitutionality and meaning. This arrangement of separated and overlapping functions creates a system of checks and balances that is another hallmark of the American system. Some of this is set out in the Constitution. Some is codified in the decisions of the Supreme Court, such as Marbury v. Madison, which established the right of the Court to rule on the constitutionality of acts of Congress. Many gray areas remain, however, where the delineation of powers is not so clear and where, in fact, the branc

Some common words found in the essay are:
Separation Powers, Marbury Madison, Senate Congress, American Constitutional, Supreme Court, Congress Judiciary, President Clinton, President Congressional, Powers Resolution, Congressional Powers, separation powers, independent counsel, congressional powers, supreme court,
Approximate Word count = 522
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)