explain why the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances are important for our democracy.

Prepare: Read Chapters 1 and 2 of American Government and review the Week One Instructor Guidance.

Reflect: The U.S. Constitution is the cornerstone of our federal government. The Constitution establishes a basic operational framework that enables the three branches of government – executive, legislative, and judicial – to interact and function as a unit. Embedded in this operational framework are two key principles: separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. Think about how these branches interact and the importance of these checks and balances and separation of powers.

Write: This post must be 300 words, explain why the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances are important for our democracy. Provide recent, real-world examples of the separation of powers and checks/balances in action (one example each). Also, discuss how the Constitution protects individual and group rights. Again, provide a recent real-world example of these Constitutional protections being applied here in the U.S.