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