1. Law in American Society Mr. Novak
Separation of Powers
&
Checks and Balances

2. 3 Branches of Government
Legislative Branch – Make Laws
Executive Branch – Execute Laws
Judicial Branch – Interpret Laws

3. 3 Branches of Government

4. Post (After) the American Revolution
When the founders wrote the U.S. Constitution they decided they did not want a king as they had when England ruled America.
No king meant a Separation of Powers or 3 Branch of Government system (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches).

5. Legislative Branch – Make Laws
Congress (2 Houses)
House of Representatives (Population of each state determines # per state)
Senate (2 members per state) – 2 X 50 = 100
House of Representatives
435 Members
Senate
100 Members

6. Legislative Branch – Make Laws
House of Representatives (435)

7. Legislative Branch – Make Laws
House of Representatives (435)
Senate (100)

8. Executive Branch – Enforce Laws
President, Vice – President, Federal Agencies, and President’s Cabinet (advisors)
Federal Agencies include
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
IRS (Internal Revenue Service)
ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms)
Cabinet include
Example: Secretary of State - Condoleezza Rice

9. Executive Branch – Enforce Laws
President – George W. Bush
Vice-President – Richard (Dick) B. Chaney
White House Chief of Staff – Joshua B. Bolten

10. Executive Branch – Enforce Laws
The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington D.C. (District of Columbia)

11. Judicial Branch – Interpret Laws
United States Supreme Court (9 Members)
Chief-Justice – John Roberts
8 Associate Justices (Judges) - John Paul Stevens, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy, David H. Souter, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Alito, and Stephen G. Breyer

12. Judicial Branch – Interpret Laws
United States Supreme Courts
United States Court of Appeals
United States District Courts
United States Bankruptcy Courts

13. Checks & Balances President can veto a bill (proposed law).
Executive branch checking the Legislative branch.
President can nominate Judges/Justices.

14. Checks & Balances Congress approves Presidential nominations.
Legislative branch checking Executive branch
Congress controls the budget.
Congress can pass a law over a Presidential veto.
Congress can impeach (have a trial) and remove a President from office.
Congress can impeach a judge and remove them from office.
Legislative branch checking Judicial branch

15. Checks & Balances
U.S. Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional (cancel the law).
Judicial branch checking the legislative branch
U.S. Supreme Court can declare a presidential act unconstitutional.
Judicial branch checking the executive branch