Review: Separation of Powers + Checks & Balances

Multiple Choice

Separation of powers and checks and balances share the goal of preventing ...

• voter fraud

• tyranny

• misappropriation of funds

• states from becoming too powerful

Multiple Choice

Which term describes how governmental power is divided up among several branches of government

• separation of powers

• checks and balances

• federalism

• limited government

Multiple Choice

Which term describes mechanisms by which different branches of government can influence or curb the power of other branches?

• separation of powers

• popular sovereignty

• federalism

• checks & balances

Multiple Choice

Separation of powers and checks and balances come from ...

• a series of laws passed by Congress

• the Declaration of Independence

• the Constitution

• the Bill of Rights

Categorize

Options (17)

power of the purse

override veto

reject nominations

veto bills

selectively enforce laws

issue executive orders

sign executive agreements

confirm/reject treaties

impeach the president

nominate judges & justices

grant pardons & reprieves

loosely enforce judicial decisions

confirm/reject judicial nominees

propose constitutional amendments

impeach judges

change size or number of courts

change jurisdiction of courts

Organize these options into the right categories

Legislative Checks on the Executive

Legislative Checks on the Judiciary

Executive Checks on the Legislature

Executive Checks on the Judiciary

Multiple Choice

What term means 'declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional?'

• judicial review

• litigation

• appropriations process

• jurisdiction

Multiple Choice

Which of these shows how judicial review might work?

• Congress passes a law, someone is harmed by it, they sue, then SCOTUS decides if the law is constitutional

• Congress proposes a law, the president considers signing it,he asks SCOTUS to check if it's constitutional before signing into law

• The House proposes a law, the Senate asks the Supreme Court to check it out before they vote on it or send it to the president

• The Supreme Court declares a law unconstitutional, but the president and Congress override the veto

Match

Match the following types of executive checks on the legislature with their example

• Veto bills

• Executive order

• Executive agreements

Obama did not sign a law repealing ACA

Obama created DACA

Trump changed NAFTA

• Obama did not sign a law repealing ACA

• Obama created DACA

• Trump changed NAFTA

Match

Match the following types of executive checks on the judiciary with their example

• Nominate justices

• Loosely enforce decisions

• Grant pardons & reprieves

Biden suggested Ketanji Brown Jackson

Little action to desegregate schools

Trump overruled sentences of 1,500 Jan.6

• Biden suggested Ketanji Brown Jackson

• Little action to desegregate schools

• Trump overruled sentences of 1,500 Jan.6

Match

Match the following types of legislative checks on the executive with their example

• Override veto

• Power of the Purse

• Confirm/reject nominations

• Confirm/reject treaties

• Impeachment

Congress passed War Powers Resolution

No $$ = no border wall

Withdrawal of Matt Gaetz nomination

US did not join League of Nations

Congress put Trump on trial twice

• Congress passed War Powers Resolution

• No $$ = no border wall

• Withdrawal of Matt Gaetz nomination

• US did not join League of Nations

• Congress put Trump on trial twice

Match

Match the following types of legislative checks on the judiciary with their example

• Confirm/reject nominees

• Propose constitutional amendments

• Impeachment

• Change size & jurisdiction of courts

Senate approved Amy Coney Barrett

Could ban flag burning

President Bill Clinton was impeached

Now 94 district courts set by Congress

• Senate approved Amy Coney Barrett

• Could ban flag burning

• President Bill Clinton was impeached

• Now 94 district courts set by Congress