[20030520]RS20443_美国国家政府：概述.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20443Updated May 20, 2003American National Government: An OverviewFrederick M. KaiserSpecialist in American National GovernmentGovernment and Finance DivisionSummaryPower in American national government is decentralized, divided, dispersed, andlimited. This distribution of power derives in part from the Constitution, throughlimitations imposed on the government, the system of checks and balances among thethree branches, and independent bases of support and authority for each branch. Thisreport, which examines these characteristics, will be updated as developments require.IntroductionIf men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neitherexternal nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a governmentwhich is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must firstenable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.James Madison, Federalist No. 51 In this passage from the Federalist Papers, James Madison, sometimes referred toas the “