Why does the United States have three branches of government?
by 
CousinVinny
ANSWERS: 7
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So no branch is too powerful
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It is not so much that the US has three branches, as that thinkers in the mid 18th century decided that any government naturally falls into three branches. The writers of the Constitution had read and contributed to these thoughts. So when they had to form their own government, they split it up in this form. All governments have these three functions. But in the ones that have grown up organically, like the British system, the functions are all muddled up, so that some people have influence in more than one branch. Without approving of all the details of the implementation, I think that the division into well separated branches is an excellent thing which has worked well for the US. I think that other countries (such as Britain) should look to moving their systems in that direction. Not necessarily in a big jump, but when changes are made, to ensure that they increase the separation of the branches.
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Beside the excellent answer you received, I believe it is for checks and balances so that too much power never rests with one person or branch.
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The three branches create checks and balances, so that one branch doesn't get stronger than any other. Thank you. :-)
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because some chaps in fluffy clothes and powdered wigs thought it would be a good idea.
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Checks and balances. So to have another branch play big brother to the other.
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In addition to other answers, I would say that the government has more than three branches at a practical level. The regulatory departments, for instance, could be considered to be a fourth branch. Staffed by the executive, directed by the legislature, and overseen by the judiciary, the regulatory departments have a direct effect on the other three branched. And even though the media is not considered a government branch, it effectively acts as one. But the main answer is to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of any one person. Remember that America was formed in the shadow of a tyranical king.
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