Most Important Principle of the Constitution

Checks and balances is the most important principle of the Constitution because it limits the powers of all three branches so that one branch can not become over powered. It is an important principle because it splits up the powers and makes sure that the branches keep each other in line.

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

This shows that there are two houses inside of one branch which is sort of a checks and balances inside of its own branch. Then there is checks and balances with other branches as well. A double checks and balances makes sure that only the best laws will come out of this branch and will better the United States.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

In Article 1 Section 3 it combines the Executive and Legislative branches. The Vice President gets the final say of the Legislative if they cannot decide the tie in votes. This allows for the ruling to be more fair and is definitely an example of balancing the system

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

The mentioned section of the Constitution shows the greatest form of checks and balances. The Legislative creates bills and proposed laws and then send them to the Executive branch where the President checks the bills and proposed laws to see if they would work or not and then either veto or accept it. 


In short, checks and balances is the most important principle of the Constitution because it gives powers to all 3 branches and makes sure that one branch cannot take over the other branches and control the whole government.

Checks and Balances as seen in the United States government