Checks and Balances

What is "Separation of Powers?"

• The US Government is separated into 3 branches.

• The government is in different buildings.

What are "Checks and Balances?"

• When your mom writes a check and balances her checkbook.

• The three branches can have their actions checked by another branch.

Congress (Senate and the House of Representatives)

• legislative branch

• executive branch

• judicial branch

The Supreme Court

• legislative branch

• executive branch

• judicial branch

The President

• legislative branch

• executive branch

• judicial branch

What can the executive branch do to check the legislative branch?

• declare a law unconstitutional

• Veto a law

What can the legislative branch do to check the executive branch?

• override the veto

• pass a law to take his power away.

What can the Judicial branch do to check the legislative branch?

• put the legislative branch on trial

• determine a law is unconstitutional.

What can the legislative branch do to check the Judicial Branch?

• introduce a new law that is very similar to the one found unconstitutional

• pass a law to remove a supreme court justice.

Why do we have checks and balances?

• so the government has enough money to balance the budget.

• to ensure one branch doesn't have too much power.