Callie Bressert
Liberty University
GOVT 327 D02
Professor Heather Piedmont
November 8, 2021
Introduction
There are only three forms of government established. Unitary, Confederacy, and the
Federal System. The United States of America was the first country to establish a new
government, which has been upheld for the longest. The balance of power within a federal
system is unique in its creation. This balance of power when implemented was heavily impacted
by a few men, but in this paper, we will be specifically discussing John Locke’s influential role.
After evaluating the structure within a federal system, I conclude that it is a strong and effective
government system that was birthed from men who were methodical and thoughtful
implementing all the different aspects of a federal system to succeed.
Structure and Power
Federalist systems divide power between two general principalities. Federal power, or the
national power, is separated from local governance. Local governance breaks down further into
state, county, city and sometimes further into precincts. Local power is delegated. The state
retains the largest scope, with fewer powers passed along to more localized form of governance.
The federal system has three branches. The executive branch regulates the execution of the legal
system and governance. Within regulating execution, the Executive branch also maintains law
and order. The legislative branch is bicameral and is charged with introduced and regulating bills
and laws. The legislative branch is essential as the power of the people is held within the
representation Congress and Senate provides for America’s citizens. The people vote who they
want to represent their needs and send their representatives to vote on bills and laws that impact
the daily life of voters. The judicial branch is responsible for maintaining the integrity of laws in
contrast to the constitution and the uphold the virtue of our laws. The judicial branch, more
specifically the Supreme Court of the United States, establishes a respect for the Constitution and
safeguards the absolute necessity of the respect for the Constitution. With lifetime appointments,
the SCOTUS, Supreme Court of the United States, ensures that considerable attention from
government and voter participants be placed on candidates for the court. This division of power
and structure of government was established by the framers in the Federalist Papers. Federalist
Paper No. 51, states, “The structure of the government must furnish the proper checks and
balances between the different departments.” (Hamilton, et. al, 332) These checks and balances
were put in place by the framers for power to not become concentrated in one place.
Dissolvement of Power
The founding fathers and framers of the Constitution and ultimately the government of
the United States had a desire to establish a perfect union. They studied political philosophers
and extracted truths from very wise men, like John Locke. John Locke believed that all men are
in a, “state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and
persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or
depending upon the will of any other man. A state also of equality, wherein all the power and
jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another; there being nothing more evident,
than that creatures of the same species and rank, promiscuously born to all the same advantages.”
(Locke, 21). The framers took this idea, that all men are created equal with equal rights, and
began to create a government system founded upon this truth. They believed it was necessary to
dissolve power within the federal and local level so that one man alone is not holding all the
power and thus all men are able to exercise their free will. Because all men are born sinful, there
can never be a perfect union on this earth, however, the federal system has become the longest,
and most successful system and has spread to many other countries.
Proper Role of Government
There are three government systems in the world today. According to our textbook, the
most common form of government, a unitary system, is where, “all legal power rests in the
central government.” (26) The second system, a confederacy, in which, “the central government
is weak and the regional governments are powerful” (26) is the complete opposite of a unitary
system. The definition of the federal system according to our textbook is, “Thus, federalism
divides the power and functions of government between a central government and a specified
number of geographically defined regional jurisdictions. In effect, people hold dual citizenship,
in the national government and in their regional government.” (26) In my opinion, I believe the
federal system is the most effective and most successful system. For example, there are currently
between twenty-five to thirty other countries that have established a federal system. The United
States of America has officially upheld a federal system for 232 years, being born in 1789.
Conclusion
The division of power within a federal system is divided between the federal and local level. The
framers set up a system of checks and balances to keep each system accountable and not let too
much power fall into one person’s hands. Man was created by God with inalienable rights and
these rights are upheld within the Constitution, one of the most important documents of America.
The role of government should be a system in which men are held accountable but at the end of
the day, Locke put it perfectly, men have free will and are going to do what they want regardless
of authority. The federal system takes that into consideration and upholds a wonderful balance of
power.
