The Three Branches of Government in America The Executive Branch The Executive Branch The Legislative Branch The Legislative Branch The Judicial Branch The Judicial Branch

The Executive Branch The office of the President The office of the President Responsible for executing and enforcing the law Responsible for executing and enforcing the law Serves as Commander and Chief of the armed forces Serves as Commander and Chief of the armed forces Can approve or veto acts of Congress Can approve or veto acts of Congress Makes foreign treaties Makes foreign treaties Nominates Supreme Court and federal judges Nominates Supreme Court and federal judges Can submit legislation Can submit legislation

Checks and Balances on Executive Powers Congress can Congress can Reject proposed legislationReject proposed legislation Override executive vetoesOverride executive vetoes Impeach and remove the presidentImpeach and remove the president Senate can refuse executive nominees and treaties Senate can refuse executive nominees and treaties Supreme Court can declare executive acts unconstitutional Supreme Court can declare executive acts unconstitutional

The Legislative Branch House of Representatives/ The Senate House of Representatives/ The Senate Passes all federal legislation Passes all federal legislation Passes the federal budget Passes the federal budget Approves treaties Approves treaties Approves presidential appointees Approves presidential appointees Can impeach and remove the president and override the president’s veto with a 2/3 vote Can impeach and remove the president and override the president’s veto with a 2/3 vote

Checks and Balances on the Legislative Branch Both the Senate and the House must approve a law in order for it to pass Both the Senate and the House must approve a law in order for it to pass President able to veto legislation President able to veto legislation Supreme Court can rule state and federal laws unconstitutional Supreme Court can rule state and federal laws unconstitutional

The Judicial Branch Can invalidate laws made by the legislature on grounds of unconstitutionality Can invalidate laws made by the legislature on grounds of unconstitutionality By the same token, it can invalidate actions made by the executive branch By the same token, it can invalidate actions made by the executive branch

Checks and Balances on the Judicial Branch Congress can Congress can Change the number of courts and their jurisdictionChange the number of courts and their jurisdiction Impeach and remove federal judgesImpeach and remove federal judges Propose amendments to the Constitution to side-step the Courts’ decisionsPropose amendments to the Constitution to side-step the Courts’ decisions President appoints federal judges who must be approved of by Congress President appoints federal judges who must be approved of by Congress