Explain the Principles of separation of powers and checks and balances Objective 2.5 Explain the Principles of separation of powers and checks and balances KQ- How does the Constitution limit the power of the government?

Limited Government Among the most important principles of our democracy is the principle of limited government

limited government The power of the government is NOT absolute No one person/group has total control Controls are put in place to prevent abuses of gov’t power

Example of limited government Rule of law government powers are limited by the laws put in place to keep order and protect people’s safety and rights

Limited government in the Constitution The US Constitution has several strategies in place to limit the powers of the federal government Separation of powers Checks and balances

dividing all the main powers of gov’t so that no separation of powers dividing all the main powers of gov’t so that no one person (or branch of gov) has total control

Separation of Powers To separate the powers of the federal government, the US Constitution created 3 branches and divided the major powers among them

Separation of Powers

separation of powers All the powers of government are divided into 3 parts: Make Laws Enforce Laws Interpret laws & settle conflicts

separation of powers All the powers of government are divided into 3 parts: Legislative Branch Congress Executive Branch President Judicial Branch Supreme Court

Separation of powers Use the text pgs. 125-127 and pg. 10 to complete the chart displaying how the powers of the federal gov’t are separated.

checks and balances a system in which each branch of gov’t is given powers that limit the power of the other branches

checks and balances a branch can prevent other branches from abusing power Legislative Executive Judicial

Checks and Balances

Call for a special session of Congress Executive Veto bill Legislative

Override veto Impeach & remove President Approve/reject Presidential Executive Override veto Approve/reject Presidential appointments Legislative

Grant pardons and reprieves Appoints all Federal judges Executive (overrides a judge’s decision) Executive Appoints all Federal judges Judicial

Declare an act of the executive Unconstitutional (judicial review)

appointments to courts Impeach and remove federal judges Approve/reject appointments to courts Legislative Judicial

Declare Laws passed Unconstitutional (judicial review) Legislative

Congress Approves Impeaches Overrides veto President Appoints Vetoes Pardon/Reprieve Supreme Court Judicial Review= Declares acts unconstitutional

It all balances out in the end

Now let’s see if you can identify who does the checking and who gets checked. Example: Legislative checks Executive L > E

1. Veto a law E > L

2. Declare law unconstitutional J > L

3. Appoint judge E > J

4. Impeach and remove President L > E

5. Override veto L > E