"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton ( ) in a letter to Mandell Creighton, April “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” James Madison ( ) in Federalist Paper No. 51, February 6, 1788 Checks and Balances of the Federal Government

Checks of the Legislative (Congress) Branch Over the executive branch: 1. To override presidential vetoes 2. To impeach and convict a president 3. To approve treaties 4. To approve presidential appointments Over the judicial branch: 1. To approve federal judges/justices 2. To impeach and convict judges/justices

Checks of the Executive (President) Branch Over the legislative branch: 1. To veto acts of Congress 2. To call special sessions of Congress Over the judicial branch: 1. To appoint federal judges/justices

Checks of the Judicial (Supreme Court) Branch Over the legislative branch: 1. To declare laws to be unconstitutional Over the executive branch: 1. To declare executive actions to be unconstitutional

The Constitution and Federalist Papers The historical context of Federalist Paper No.51 The meaning of the Constitution

Checks and Balances Questions An opportunity for relevant questions and checking for understanding