AF-separation-of-powers-Digital-20 - Flipbook - Page 29
Final Thought – Citizen Participation
A
merica’s Founding Fathers laid the foundation for citizen participation. They knew this beautiful
experiment in democracy would only succeed if each generation realized the importance of getting
involved and taking action.
As a Constitutional Republic form of government, the power and authority of government is derived
from the consent of the people. To hold government accountable to the citizens, our Founding Fathers
included a framework of checks and balances governed by the principles of Separation of Powers
within the Constitution. Their purposeful approach provides citizens with a mechanism to control and
maintain a balance within the three branches – Legislative, Executive, and Judicial, and to discourage
corruption and abuse of power.
As significant as the Separation of Powers principles are in theory, in reality, the power of our vote is
the ultimate check on government. Our vote brings about accountability.
Voting is our ultimate civic responsibility and patriotic duty, whether it be in local, state or national
elections. It is the height of citizen participation, the heart of our Republic, and vital to remaining a
viable sovereign nation, free from tyranny.
29