Guiding QuestionsGuiding Questions1. What are the three branches of

government?2. What are the primary

responsibilities of each?3. Why does the U.S. Constitution

provide for a separation of powers?

4. How does the system of checks and balances work?

IntroductionIntroduction• U.S. Constitution divides

powers among three branches

• “Separation of Powers”

• Why was this done?Why was this done?

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers• Limits

government powers

• Prevents any one branch from having too much power

Three Branches of Government

Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch

• What does each branch do?

Three Branches of Government

Legislative Branch – makes the nation’s laws

Executive Branch – carries out the laws

Judicial Branch – interprets the laws

3 Branches of Government

ExecutiveBranch

LegislativeBranch

JudicialBranch

CongressPresident &

Vice PresidentSupreme Court

Advisors & Appointees

SenateHouse of

RepresentativesFederal Court

System

Legislative Branch

• Article 1 of the Constitution

• Congress – law-making branch

• Two houses

–Senate

–House of Representatives

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Executive Branch

• Article 2 of the Constitution

• Executes, or carries out, nation’s laws

• President, Vice President, appointees & advisors

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Judicial Branch• Article 3 of the Constitution• U.S. Supreme Court & federal

court system1. Interprets laws2. Punishes law-breakers3. Determines if laws are

constitutional

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Checks & Balances

• Each branch has its own powers

• Yet, no branch can become too powerful

• How does the Constitution balance the powers?

Checks & Balances

Each branch has powers to check, or limit, the powers of the other 2 branches

How does this work?

• Congress has power to make laws

• President has power to veto, or turn down, proposed laws

• President can check power of Congress

Can Congress check the President’s power?

• Congress can override, or pass a law over President’s veto

• 2/3 majority vote in both houses needed

Is the Supreme Court involved in law-making?

• Supreme Court can check the powers of Congress and the President

• Interprets laws• Determines if laws are constitutional

Photo courtesy of www.usconstitution.com