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 the president when

• call special sessions of Congress

• appoints judges/justices

• when judges/justices declare executive actions to be unconstitutional

Who can grant pardons to federal offenders?

• Executive

• Legislative

• Judicial

Who can impeach and remove judges?

• Executive

• Legislative

• Judicial

What is separation of powers?

• The sharing of powers between the state and local governments.

• The division of the country's powers into 3 branches so no one branch has more than the other.

• The sharing of powers between the national and state governments.

• 2 of the 3 branches have less power than the 3rd.