Info...
- The national government is divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial but because the Constitution set up a system of check and balances to make sure no branch becomes too powerful
- The checks and balances ensures the Legislative branch have the power of making laws, it also has certain powers over the Executive branch such as: can remove the president through impeachment, the senate approves treaties, may override presidential vetoes with a 2/3 vote, and the senate approves presidential appointments.
- The checks and balances ensures the Executive branch have the power of carrying out the laws, it also has certain powers over the Legislative branch such as: able to veto power, ability to call special sessions of Congress, can recommend legislation, and can appeal to the people concerning legislation.
- The check and balances ensures the Judicial branch have power of interpreting the laws, it also has certain powers over the Executive branch such as: the judges are free from controls from the executive branch, the courts can judge executive action to be unconstitutional through the power of the judicial review.
Fun Facts...
- The process of how laws are made is a good example of checks and balances in action.
- First, the legislative branch introduces and votes on a bill. The bill then goes to the executive branch, where the President decides whether he thinks the bill is good for the country. If so, he signs the bill, and it becomes a law.
Real Life Examples...
- President Bush wanted to help our financial systems by passing the Bailout Bill but the democratic congress who doesn't want Bush to go out with a bang, vetoed it.
- Congress must approve anything the President initiates. The Supreme Court can declare a congressional bill unconstitutional