The U.S. federal government is a ”limited government,” meaning its powers are restricted to those described in the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution gives the federal government the power to print money, regulate international trade, establish military forces, declare war, and make treaties with other nations.

All powers that are not specifically designated to the federal government are meant to be left to the states.  While the federal government is responsible for national defense, levying federal taxes, creating and enforcing federal laws, and managing relations with other nations, it also can pass laws that impact relationships between the states. State governments have broad powers to pass laws within their own states, and the tension between federal and state jurisdictions can bring significant conflict.

Division of Power in the U.S.

In the 18th century, the French philosopher and judge Montesquieu developed the concept of “trias politica,” which means separation of powers. His vision was of a government composed of three branches - executive, legislative, and judicial -  with each of the three working independently of each other while being held accountable by one another. This inspired the Founding Fathers when they wrote the U.S. Constitution. They did not wish to return to a single ruler having all of the power, like their former king. They wanted accountability for each branch of government.

Each branch has the power to challenge and change the acts of the other branches. For instance, the President can veto legislation, the Supreme Court can overturn laws if they are determined to be unconstitutional, and Congress can confirm or reject presidential appointments. This is called the system of checks and balances.

Learn more about the three branches of government