1. Three Branches of the Government

2. System of Checks and Balances
No single branch is permitted the freedom of unlimited power.

3. Executive – President and Commander in Chief
Vice President – President of Senate
Cabinet – Heads of Departments ( Secretary of: Defense, Treasury, State, Justice, Energy, Interior, Homeland Security, Transportation, etc.)
Head of Cabinet is the Attorney General
Judicial – Federal Courts
Supreme Court
9 Justices for life – Chief Justice + 8 Justices
Apply Constitution to laws – can find law unconstitutional. Law must obey the Constitution
Appellate Court
Legislative - Congress
Senate – 100 Representatives (2 from each state)
House of Representatives – Proportionate to state population
Propose Laws (Bills)
“Power of the Purse”

4. Executive Branch President – signs Bill into Law
Appoints Justices for life
Appoints “Secretaries”
Pardons
Declare War
Override Veto (2/3)
Approve Treaty
Controls Funds

5. Veto
Gun Control – Amendment 2 – A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon.
School $
Bridges
Roads
Signs bills into law {Checks & Balances}

6. Judicial Branch Supreme Court Apply Constitution to Laws
Find laws Unconstitutional
Appellate Court (empowered to review judicial decisions)

7. Legislative
“Law-makers”
Propose Laws
Approve Justices

8. Executive Legislative Judicial Impeach Bill Veto Appoints & Pardons
Override
Appoints & Pardons
Justices for Life
Declare Law Unconstitutional
Declares laws unconstitutional
Approves Justices can impeach
Approve all Executive appointments
Judicial

9. Judicial Executive Legislative
Grants pardons and reprieves to federal offenders.
President appoints Supreme Court Justices and other federal judges
Judicial
Can declare laws unconstitutional.
Can impeach judges.
Senate can refuse to confirm appointments.
Can propose amendments to overrule judicial decisions.
Can declare laws or executive acts unconstitutional
President can veto bills and appeal to people in speeches.
President can appeal to Congress in messages and can call special sessions
Executive
Legislative
Can impeach and remove President from office.
Can overrule President’s veto.
Senate can refuse to ratify treaties.
Senate can refuse to confirm appointments.