What are checks and balances? They are limits that keep different parts of government from having too much power. But just what are these limits? And how do they help our government run more smoothly? Read this book to find out.

The United States government is divided into the executive, legislative, and judicial branches in order to maintain a healthy balance of power, but how is that balance maintained today? This timely book explains the system of checks and balances with historical and contemporary examples, such as President Trump's executive order banning immigration from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Readers will learn how the judicial branch was able to block portions of this executive order, and other key moments of checks and balances in U.S. history. Photographs bring these important issues into sharp focus, while fact boxes highlight essential information on this highly relevant topic.

The system of checks balances between the branches of the U.S. government is written into the Constitution, but it isn't always clearly understood. How does each branch keep the others from getting too powerful? The answer is waiting for readers to discover in this inside guide to an essential civics concept. Through age-appropriate text, photographs, sidebars, and fact boxes, readers explore the meaning of checks and balances and how the system works. They're also encouraged to discuss ways it's been used in the past and the benefits and disadvantages of checks and balances.

Classic Books Library presents this brand new edition of “The Federalist Papers”, a collection of separate essays and articles compiled in 1788 by Alexander Hamilton. Following the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776, the governing doctrines and policies of the States lacked cohesion. “The Federalist”, as it was previously known, was constructed by American statesman Alexander Hamilton, and was intended to catalyse the ratification of the United States Constitution. Hamilton recruited fellow statesmen James Madison Jr., and John Jay to write papers for the compendium, and the three are known as some of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Alexander Hamilton (c. 1755–1804) was an American lawyer, journalist and highly influential government official. He also served as a Senior Officer in the Army between 1799-1800 and founded the Federalist Party, the system that governed the nation’s finances. His contributions to the Constitution and leadership made a significant and lasting impact on the early development of the nation of the United States.

Executive power in the shadow of legislative capacity -- Legislative capacity, executive action, and separation of powers -- 'Outmanned and outgunned' : the historical development of congressional capacity -- Pulling the purse strings : legislative capacity and discretion -- Continuous watchfulness? legislative capacity and oversight -- Presidential unilateral policy making -- Unilateral policy making in the U.S. states -- The future of legislative capacity.