6b Checks & Balances

Which branch of government has the most power?

• Legislative

• Judicial

• Executive

• None silly... they are all equal.

What document defines the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the national government.

• Articles of Confederation

• Constitution

• Declaration of Independence

Each of the three branches of the national government limits the exercise of power by the other two branches.

• Checks & Balances

• Veto Process

• Bicameral

• Federalism

The Congress checks the president when legislators

• impeach and convict judges/justices

• override presidential vetoes

• impeach and convict a president

• proposes legislation

The Congress checks the courts when legislators

• confirm or refuse to confirm federal judges/justices

• impeach and convict judges/justices

• impeach and convict a president

• call special sessions of Congress

The president checks Congress when the president

• proposes legislation

• prepares an annual budget for Congress to approve

• call special sessions of Congress

• vetoes legislation Congress has passed

The president checks the courts when

• proposes legislation

• appoints judges/justices

• confirm or refuse to confirm federal judges/justices

• vetoes legislation Congress has passed

The courts check Congress when

• judges/justices declare acts of Congress to be unconstitutional

• appoints judges/justices

• proposes legislation

The courts check the president when

• call special sessions of Congress

• appoints judges/justices

• when judges/justices declare executive actions to be unconstitutional