Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject Politics - Region: USA, grade: 1,0, University College Cork (Department of Government), course: GV2001 Politics of the United States of America, language: English, abstract: The political system of the United States is characterised by separation of powers with an elaborate system of checks and balances among the three constitutional branches: Congress the presidency and the court. In this essay I trace back this system back to the historical intention of its framers, assess the current distribution of powers and discuss problematic developments.