Final answer:
Congress was considered the first branch of government by the framers of the U.S. Constitution because it embodied the representation of the people and was designed to be the most powerful branch in the new republic's government. The separation of powers and the system of checks and balances further emphasized the leadership role of Congress in lawmaking and governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Congress Was Considered the First Branch by the Framers
The framers of the U.S. Constitution saw Congress as the cornerstone of the new republic, a reflection of their experiences and the beliefs they held after enduring what they felt was the tyranny of a monarchical system. The Constitution begins with "We the People," emphasizing that political power arises from the consent of the governed, and Congress was meant to be the primary representation of the people's will. In this system, Congress was designed to be more powerful and to hold authority over crucial areas including budgeting, legislation, and war decisions. This structure reflected the importance the framers placed on the legislative branch, following their experience with their state governments where the legislature was the central authority.
By separating powers and establishing a system of checks and balances, the framers ensured that no single branch would be too powerful. Although the executive and judicial branches have specific roles – enforcement and interpretation of laws respectively – Congress's role in lawmaking was supreme. The Constitution laid out this separation of powers under Article I, Section 8 for Congress, and Article II for the President, defining the scope of each branch's powers.
Integral to the creation of the Constitution was the notion of establishing a balance where the legislature, a bicameral Congress, would embody the collective will and interests of the states and the people. This respect for the legislature, derived from the British bicameral model and from practices within state governments, justified Congress's role as the first branch in the eyes of the framers.