Checks & Balances #4

What is "Judicial Review" and why is it important?

• The power of a President or state Governor to issue  pardons for criminals.   It gives people a new beginning.
• The power of a state Governor to remove a state judge for illegal activity.  Protects our courts from corruption.
• The power of the Supreme Court to determine whether a law is constitutional or unconstitutional.  
•  The power of Congress to make new laws.  Allows new laws to be made to protect the interests of society.

_{Local News Report:}

^{"Hilary Clinton has received a pardon for her email cover-up scandal."}

Which area of government was responsible for the event above?

• Supreme Court.

• President.

• Congress.

• Senate.

_{Miami Herald Newspaper Headline:}

_{"Judge Henderson indicted for public corruption and removed from the Supreme Court."}

Which part of the Government is responsible for this event?

• President.

• Congress.

• Chief Justice.

• Governor.

Complete the chart below:
*Congress → makes laws, coins money, issue copyrights, and impeachment power.
*President→ enforces the laws, power to appoint judges, veto power, issue pardons, and ___________________________.
*Supreme Court→ interprets the laws, decides cases between states.

• Commander in chief.
• Power to collect taxes.
• Declare war on a foreign country.
• Decides if laws are unconstitutional.

What is the "Elastic Clause"?

• The power of the President to "appoint & nominate" judges to the Supreme Court.
• The power of Congress to make and pass laws that are "necessary & proper" to execute vested powers.
• The power of the Supreme Court to "interpret and declare" laws unconstitutional. 
• The power of the Commander in Chief to "request & organize" United States military for war.

Try not to confuse CHECKS & BALANCES and SEPARATION OF POWERS.
*Checks and Balances is the power granted to each branch of government (from the Constitution) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful or abusive.
*Separation of Powers is the government structure that ..........................

• prohibits Citizens from exercising their right to vote and elect public officials.
• allows one person to regulate all of the aspects of government.
• protects a nation from tyranny by dividing power  into different branches and detailing the functions of each.
• allows government officials and foreign ambassadors "sovereign immunity" from criminal acts.

Under the theory of Checks & Balances, which of the following can President Trump do if he thinks that a new law ("a Bill") passed by Congress is a "bad law"?
I.  Amend the "Bill" to be politically correct.
II.  Do nothing and refuse to sign the new law ("pocket veto").
III.  Exercise his power to Veto.
IV.   Sign the "Bill" into law.

• I and IV
• I, III, IV
• II and III
• I, II, III, IV

Under the concept of Checks & Balances, what power of the President (Executive Branch) is used to check the actions of Congress (Legislative Branch)?

• President refusing to provide project funding.
• President adjourning (cancelling) a 
• President declaring a new law unconstitutional.
• President vetoing a new bill approved by Congress.

When one of the three branches uses an enumerated power (specifically written in the Constitution) to prevent another branch from corruption or abuse of power, is considered what theory of government?

• Separation of Powers.
• "Necessary and Proper". 
• Checks and Balances.
• Declaration of Independance.

What branch of government is Congress? And what are the two (2) parts of Congress?

• Congress is in the Executive branch and consists of the Senate and House of Representatives.
• Congress is in the Legislative branch and consists of the Senate and House of Lords.
• Congress is in the Judicial branch and consists of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice.
• Congress is in the Legislative branch and consists of the Senate and House of Representatives.