Checks and Balances

Judicial Branch

INTERPRETS LAWS

Legislative Branch

MAKES LAWS

Executive Branch

CARRIES OUT LAWS

Each branch of government has some form of control over or influence on the other two

Checks and Balances• Congress checks the President

– Makes laws– Appropriates funding– Coins money– Can override a veto by 2/3 vote– Impeach the President– Senate approves treaties and Presidential

appointments for judges– Declares war– Regulates immigration

Checks and Balances

• Congress checks the Supreme Court– Creates lower courts– Impeach federal judges– Senate approves appointment of judges

Checks and Balances

• Supreme Court checks President– Judges are appointed for life– May declare executive actions

unconstitutional

Checks and Balances

• Supreme Court checks Congress– May declare acts of Congress (laws)

unconstitutional

Checks and Balances

• President checks Congress– May veto legislation (laws)– Call special sessions of Congress– Appeal to the people (through State of the

Union Address) to influence legislation

Checks and Balances

• Additional Presidential Powers– Carries out Laws– Makes treaties with other nations– Writes the budget– Can “pardon” a felon (excuse them)– Can grant amnesty (same as “pardon” but for a

group)– Granted special war-time powers

Checks and Balances Scenarios

• Identify which branch of government is checking which branch

• “The President vetoes a bill passed by Congress”– Executive checks Legislative

• “The Supreme Court rules a law passed by Congress is unconstitutional”– Judicial checks legislative

Checks and Balances Scenarios

1. “Congress refuses to confirm the nomination of Bob Dorkmeister to the Supreme Court”

2. “A bill to raise the legal driving age to 18 is vetoed”

3. “U.S. diplomats write a treaty with the government of Iraq, but the U.S. never approves the treaty”