Q Prepare: Prior to writing your initial post, read Chapters 1 and 2 of American Government and review the Week 1 Instructor Guidance. Reflect: The U.S. Constitution is the cornerstone of our federal government. The Constitution establishes a basic operational framework that enables the three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—to interact and function as a unit. Embedded in this operational framework are two key principles: separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. Think about how these branches interact and the importance of these checks and balances and the separation of powers. Write: In your initial post, please fully and directly respond to the following: Explain the difference between checks and balances and the separation of powers, and explain why they are important to our democracy. Discuss one recent real-world example of checks and balances, and explain the impact of it. Discuss one recent real-world example of balance of power, and explain the impact of it. Discuss one recent real-world example of how the Constitution directly protects individual and group rights.