Checks and balances and the separation of powers are aspects of a Madisonian democracy whereby separate branches of government have limiting powers over each other so that no one branch will become supreme. This holds with the belief of the founders that power will balance power. The Constitution distinctly separates the three branches of government under the separation of powers, the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Examples of this system include the presidential veto power over legislation, the Senate's approval of presidential appointments, and judicial review. This balance of power did not previously exist under the Articles of Confederation, where the majority of power was given to the states unchecked. This system not only prevents actions from occurring, but can also result in significant policy change when the branches agree to share power. An example of this is the 1964 Civil Rights Act. President Johnson had to work with senate closely in order to get republican support to get the bill passed. With this situation, and many others in mind, the founders of the constitution, and creators of the system of checks and balances would be content with the separation of powers. It is still preventing the tyranny of a powerful central government without power to restrict power, the way that was originally intended, and is also using the power of combined departments to make positive changes.
Federalism is an ingredient of democracy in which the national government shares the power with the lower levels of government, the states. The framers designed this in order to limit the national government by creating another layer of government to share the power. The State governments hold the powers reserved to them in the tenth amendment. The states also hold police power, which are the powers to regulate health, safety, and morals of its citizens. The national government holds expressed powers, which are found in Article I, Section 8 of the constitution.
