Post on 24-Dec-2015
Checks and Balances
Mr. Blais
Foundations of America
Dividing the Federal Government
• The Founding Fathers believed that the only way to keep the Federal Government from gaining too much power was to divide it into three parts:– The Legislature – Makes Laws
– The Executive – Enforces Laws
– The Judicial – Interprets Laws
What are Checks and Balances?
• Checks and Balances were built into the Constitution to ensure that no one branch of government ever became too powerful.
• It gives each branch of government some power over the others
Legislative vs. Executive• Congress can pass new
bills • President must approve or veto these bills
• Congress can override presidential vetoes with a 2/3 majority vote
• President can make treaties and appoint Supreme Court Justices
• The Senate must approve all appointments and treaties
• Congress can impeach and remove president from office
John Roberts(Chief Justice)
Legislative vs. Judicial
• The Senate must approve Supreme Court nominations
• The Supreme Court can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional
• Congress can impeach and remove federal judges
Executive vs. Judicial
• The President appoints all Supreme Court Justices
• The Supreme Court can declare any executive acts unconstitutional
• Newest Supreme Court Justice: Sonia Sotomayor