Three Branches of Gov’t and Checks & Balances

Legislative Branch... Makes Laws Congress is composed of two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.SenateHouse of Representatives The Senate has 100 elected senators total; 2 senators per state. Each senator serves a 6 year term. The House has 435 elected representatives total; representatives are based on each state's population. Each representative serves a 2 year term and may be re-elected.

Executive Branch - Carries Out Laws Composed of the President, Vice President and CabinetPresidentVice PresidentCabinet The president is the head of state, head of the U.S. government and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. military. The vice president not only supports the president, but also acts as the presiding officer of the senate.presiding officer of the senate The Cabinet members are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate (with at least 51 votes). They serve as advisors and heads of various departments and agencies.

Judicial Branch - Evaluates Laws The judicial branch of government is made up of the court system. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. The 9 justices are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate (with at least 51 votes). There are lower Federal Courts but they were not created by the Constitution. Congress deemed them necessary and established them using power granted from the Constitution.

Federalism - Three Powers Reserved powers are those that have been reserved for the states or of a traditionally state scope. These consist mostly of police powers, such as providing fire and police protection, establishment of health regulations, licensing, and education. Granted powers are those specifically listed in Article 1, Section 8, such as the power to coin money, to raise an army and navy, to provide for patent and copyright protections, to establish a post office, and to make treaties and war with other nations.Article 1, Section 8 Concurrent powers are held by both the federal and state governments. Example- taxation power, the ability to construct and maintain roads, and other spending for the general welfare.

Checks and Balances Legislative Branch…Checks on the Executive Branch o Impeachment power (House) Trial of impeachments (Senate) o Selection of the President (House) and Vice President (Senate) in the case of no majority of electoral votes o May override Presidential vetoes o Senate approves departmental appointments o Senate approves treaties and ambassadors o Approval of replacement Vice President o Power to declare war o Power to enact taxes and allocate funds o President must, from time-to-time, deliver a State of the Union address

Checks and Balances Legislative Branch...Checks on the Judiciary o Senate approves federal judges o Impeachment power (House) o Trial of impeachments (Senate) o Power to initiate constitutional amendments o Power to set courts inferior to the Supreme Court o Power to set jurisdiction of courts o Power to alter the size of the Supreme Court

Checks and Balances Legislative Branch...Checks on the Legislature Since it is bicameral, the Legislative branch has a degree of self-checking. o Bills must be passed by both houses of Congress o House must originate revenue bills o Neither house may adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the otherhouse o All journals are to be published

Checks and Balances Executive Branch... Checks on the Legislature o Veto power Veto power o Vice President is President of the Senate o Commander in chief of the military o Recess appointments o Emergency calling into session of one or both houses of Congress o May force adjournment when both houses cannot agree on adjournment

Checks and Balances Executive Branch, continued Checks on the Judiciary o Power to appoint judges o Pardon power Checks on the Executive o Vice President and Cabinet can vote that the President is unable to discharge his duties

Checks and Balances Judicial Branch... Checks on the Legislature o Judicial review o Seats are held on good behavior o Compensation cannot be diminished Judicial Branch... Checks on the Executive o Judicial review o Chief Justice sits as President of the Senate during presidential impeachment