1. Essential Question: What powers does each branch have and how can their powers be limited by other branches?

2. Separation of Powers The framers of the constitution feared tyranny (one person having all government power). They protected against this by structuring federal government powers to be separate into three branches Separation of Powers: distribution of political power among the branches of government, giving each branch a particular set of responsibilities

3. The Three Branches of Government The separation of powers concept was used in many state constitutions before the U.S. Constitution was written The Legislative Branch writes laws The Executive Branch enforces laws The Judicial Branch interprets laws

4. The Legislative Branch Article 1 of the Constitution covers the functions of the Legislative Branch The Constitution covers their functions more extensively than any other branch Legislative Branch makes laws and controls the national government budget Legislative Branch: the lawmaking branch of government

5. The Executive Branch Article 2 of the Constitution covers the functions of the Executive Branch The president is the head of Executive Branch Executive Branch enforces laws The Constitution specified the Executive Branch to be a president and a vice president. However, today it includes 15 departments, thousands of agencies, divisions, commissions, and offices Executive Branch: the branch of government that carries out the laws

6. The Judicial Branch Article 3 of the Constitution covers the functions of the judicial branch The Constitution covers its functions less extensively than any other branch The Constitution also set judicial power limits and the process of appointing judges. The Constitution left the task of setting up courts beneath the Supreme Court to the judicial branch Judicial Branch: the branch of government that interprets the laws and punishes lawbreakers

7. Checks and Balances Framers got the idea from French philosopher Judge Baron de Montesquieu Framers like the concept because it ensure one branch doesn’t become too powerful Checks and Balances: a system in which the powers of government are balanced among branches so that each branch can check, or limit, the power of the other branches

8. President Can Check Congress The Constitution gives the president power to veto, or reject, proposed laws by Congress Veto: a refusal by the president or a governor to sign a bill

9. Congress Can Check The President The Constitution gives Congress the power to override a presidential veto by receiving 2/3 approval in both houses

10. Checks, Balances, and the Judicial Branch The Supreme Court was created by Congress not the Constitution

11. The Courts and Judicial Review Judicial Review was established by the Supreme Court in their ruling of the Marbury v. Madison Judicial Review gives the Supreme Court power to check the other branches of government Judicial Review: power of the U.S. Supreme Court to determine if a law passed by Congress or a presidential action is in accord with the Constitution