1. Three Branches of Government

2. The delegates at the constitutional convention decided to divide the national government into three branches: Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, and Judicial Branch.

3. Separation of Power: The Constitution divides government power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The separation of power insures that no one branch of government will have too much power.

4. Separation of Power

5. Legislative Branch (Congress)

6. House of Representatives Senate
Legislative Branch
(Congress)
House of Representatives
Senate
Total Members
Per State
(2 per state)
Total Members
Per State
(depends on the states’ population

7. Powers of the Legislative Branch
make laws
declare war
collect taxes
approve or disapprove of people that the President appoints or gives jobs to
remove a Supreme Court judge
remove the President

11. Executive Branch (the President)

12. (a group of advisors to the president)
Executive Branch
President
Vice-President
Cabinet
(a group of advisors to the president)

13. Powers of the Executive Branch
carry out the laws and make people obey them
manage or run the government
suggest new laws
appoint Cabinet members
appoint Supreme Court judges
approve or reject (veto) laws made by Congress

14. President
George W. Bush
Vice-President
Richard Cheney

15. The Cabinet Secretary of State Secretary of Treasury Secretary of War
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Homeland Security
Attorney General

18. White House

19. Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)

20. Supreme Court The Supreme Court is the highest court in nation.
There are 9 judges (justices) on the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President and serve for life.
Congress must approve the appointments

21. Powers of the Judicial Branch
interprets or reviews laws passed by Congress
decide if a law agrees with the Constitution or disagrees with it (unconstitutional)
settle arguments between the states
protect the rights of the people

25. Checks and Balances
The three branches of government have roles that check, or limit, the others so that no single branch can have too much authority.
It prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
The executive checks the legislative and judicial.
The legislative checks the executive and judicial.
The judicial checks the executive and legislative.

26. Examples of Checks and Balances

27. The President can veto (reject) the law
Congress passes a law
Congress can reverse the president’s veto with a two-thirds vote

28. Example of Checks and Balances
The president can veto bills passed by Congress.

30. Congress can impeach (bring charges against) and remove a president.
Supreme Court can declare laws passed by Congress unconstitutional (against the constitution).

31. President vetoes the bill 1 2
Congress approves
a bill prohibiting
flag burning
President vetoes the bill 1 2
Congress overrides the
President’s veto
Citizen arrested for
burning flag and sues 3 4
Supreme Court
declares law
unconstitutional 5