Three Branches of the Government

System of Checks and Balances

• No single branch is permitted the freedom of unlimited power.

•Vice President – President of Senate

•Cabinet – Heads of Departments ( Secretary of: Defense, Treasury, State, Justice, Energy, Interior, Homeland Security, Transportation, etc.)

•Head of Cabinet is the Attorney General

Executive – President and Commander in

Chief•Supreme Court•9 Justices for life – Chief Justice + 8 Justices

•Apply Constitution to laws – can find law unconstitutional. Law must obey the Constitution

•Appellate Court

Judicial – Federal Courts

•Senate – 100 Representatives (2 from each state)

•House of Representatives – Proportionate to state population

•Propose Laws (Bills)

•“Power of the Purse”

Legislative - Congress

Executive Branch

• President – signs Bill into Law• Appoints Justices for life• Appoints “Secretaries”• Pardons• Declare War• Override Veto (2/3)• Approve Treaty• Controls Funds

Veto

• Gun Control – Amendment 2 – A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon.

• School $• Bridges• Roads

• Signs bills into law {Checks & Balances}

Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court• Apply Constitution to Laws• Find laws Unconstitutional• Appellate Court (empowered to

review judicial decisions)

Legislative

• “Law-makers”• Propose Laws• Approve Justices

Impeach

Bill

Judicial

Decla

res la

ws

unco

nstitu

tional

Appro

ves Ju

stices ca

n

impeach

Justi

ces f

or L

ifeD

ecl

are

Law

Unco

nst

ituti

onal

Appoin

ts &

Pard

ons

Executive

Legislative

Veto

Override

Approve all Executive appointments

Legislative

Executive

Judicial

•Grants pardons and reprieves to federal offenders. • President appoints Supreme Court Justices and other federal judges

Can declare laws or executive acts unconstitutional

•Can impeach and remove President from office.•Can overrule President’s veto.•Senate can refuse to ratify treaties.•Senate can refuse to confirm appointments.

•President can veto bills and appeal to people in speeches.•President can appeal to Congress in messages and can call special sessions

Can declare laws unconstitutional.

•Can impeach judges.•Senate can refuse to confirm appointments.•Can propose amendments to overrule judicial decisions.