1. Separation of Powers

2. Ensures no person or branch of government is too powerful
Separation of Powers
Distributes power equally among three branches of government
Ensures no person or branch of government is too powerful

4. Powers of the Legislative Branch
Created in Article I
Congress is the lawmaking branch
Made up of 2 houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives
Powers of the Legislative Branch
Makes the laws
Confirms presidential appointments
Approves treaties
Grants money
Declares war

5. Powers of the Executive Branch
Proposes laws
Approves or vetoes laws
Administers and executes the laws
Commands the armed forced
Appoints ambassadors, federal judges and others
Conducts foreign policy
Makes treaties
Created in Article II
Executes the country’s laws
Headed by the President

6. Powers of the Judicial Branch
Created in Article III
Interprets laws and punishes lawbreakers
Supreme Court is the head of the judicial branch
Powers of the Judicial Branch
Interprets the Constitution and other laws
Reviews lower court decisions

7. Checks and Balances
* Each branch has powers that no other branch can have
* Each branch has powers that limit the powers of the other two branches
* Ensures that no branch becomes too powerful

9. Legislative Checks Over The Executive branch Overrides vetoes
Approves federal judges
Over
The Judicial branch
Approves federal judges
Impeaches federal judges

10. The Legislative branch
Executive Checks
Over
The Legislative branch
Vetoes acts of Congress
Calls Congress into special session
Over
The Judicial branch
Appoints federal judges
House of
Reps.
Senate

11. The Legislative branch
Judicial Checks
Over
The Legislative branch
Declares laws unconstitutional
Over
The Executive branch
Declares executive acts unconstitutional
House of
Reps.
Senate