The backbone of American politics stems from the concept of democracy, where the people govern themselves, understanding this concept is essential to the process of policy development. The president and Congress should have equal jurisdiction in making policy. Constitutional checks and balances were created by the founders to prevent one branch from gaining unequal power over the other. In very specific circumstances, such as for example, the powers of each branch can be modified. The Constitution can be interpreted in many ways, and each interpretation has sparked debate over whether the president or Congress has more influence over policymaking. War Powers: The U.S. Constitution vests military responsibility in both the executive and legislative branches, but scholars have long debated. the jurisdiction of their war powers. Over the past century, presidents have increasingly ignored the constitutional requirements required to take military action. The American Constitution. Art. Me, dry. VIII [Congress shall have power] to declare war, grant letters of marque and retaliation, and m...