Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances

Which statement is an example of the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches?

• Congress passes laws, but the president enforces them

• Congress passes laws, but the federal courts interpret them.

• The president can enforce laws, but the federal courts can interpret them.

• The president interprets laws, but the legislative branch enforces them

Which statement is an example of how the judicial branch can check the power of the legislative branch?

• The Supreme Court reviews bills before they become laws.

• The Supreme Court can overturn rulings of lower courts.

• The Supreme Court rules on cases involving federal officials.

• The Supreme Court can rule that laws are unconstitutional.

On which concept is the system of checks and balances based?

• Federalism

• Rule of Law

• Limited Government

• Self-Government

Which example demonstrates how the Constitution uses separation of powers to create a system of checks and balances?

• Congress can collect taxes, but funds spent by Congress must be made public

• Congress passes laws, but the president is responsible for reviewing laws

• President can grant pardons, but pardons must be approved by Supreme Court

• President commander in chief of the military, but Congress declares war

Which government roles are part of the legislative branch?

• President and Congress person

• Supreme Court Justice and President

• Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senators

• Supreme Court Justices and Speaker of the House of Representatives

According to John Locke, which rights were guaranteed by natural law?

• freedom of worship and the right to petition

• trial by jury and no cruel punishments

• freedom of speech and of the press

• life, liberty and property

Why did Montesquieu believe the powers of the government should be separated?

• It would keep government leaders from becoming too powerful

• Because of divine right, government should be separated into more than one branch

• Because Locke's social contract stated that government by one ruler went against natural law

• Because running a government was too much for one person to handle

Separation of powers was the idea of which enlightenment thinker?

• Montesquieu

• John Locke

• Isaac Newton

• Thomas Paine

Which court case establishes Judicial Review?

• Mculloh V Maryland
• Marbury V Madison
• Plessy V Ferguson
• Hamilton V Jefferson

What is judicial review?

• The law that created the federal court system

• The belief that judges should limit their power over legislation

• The authority to hear a case before any other court

• The power of the Supreme Court to decide if a law is constitutional or not