1. LIMITED GOVERNMENT FEDERAL CHECKS & BALANCES SYSTEM
SHARES POWER BETWEEN HIM AND THE STATES
EACH BRANCH CAN LIMIT THE ACTIONS OF THE OTHERS
HIS POWER IS DIVIDED AMONG THREE BRANCHES
SEPARATION OF POWERS

2. 18 19

4. Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
Lesson 3-7
Separation of Powers
and
Checks & Balances

5. How is the power of government
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances 19 R
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How is the power of government
“evenly distributed?”
LEARNING TARGETS
I can summarize how the federal government is divided into three branches.
I can explain how checks and balances work.
Add Vocabulary terms to Section 2 (19)
VOCAB
checks and balances

6. Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
Homeland Security
2002

7. Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances18
WARM UP
Dividing the federal government into three branches was one way the framers of the Constitution hoped to limit the government’s power.
Which branch do you think is the MOST powerful?
But WHAT would keep one branch from dominating the others?
By creating a system of
CHECKS – blocks the actions of other branches
and
BALANCES – have some role in the actions/power of other branches

8. Attach the Reading Notes.
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances 19 R
Checks and Balances
Read Section 9.6 (172) and answer the questions below.
What does the term “checks and balances” mean?
Why did the framers feel the need to include checks and balances in the Constitution?
What can the legislative branch do if the president vetoes a bill?
Who has the power to review all laws and treaties of the United States?
Who must approve all judges, ambassadors, and cabinet members that the president appoints to government positions?
Who must approve any treaties that are made with foreign countries?
Who has the power to veto laws?
What branch of government can check the power of the judiciary by exercising the power of impeachment?
Attach the Reading Notes.
Read page 172 and answer the questions.

9. Review the Reading Notes
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
Review the Reading Notes
Checks and Balances
1. What does the term checks and balances mean?
Checks and balances is a system that enables each branch of government to block the actions of another branch.
The framers were concerned that one branch would try to gain too much power.
2. Why did the framers feel the need to include checks and
balances in the Constitution?

10. Review the Reading Notes
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
Review the Reading Notes
Checks and Balances
3. What can the legislative branch do if the president vetoes a bill?
The legislative branch can override a veto with a two-thirds vote.
4. Who has the power to review all laws and treaties of the
United States?
The federal courts review all laws and treaties.

11. Review the Reading Notes
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
Review the Reading Notes
Checks and Balances
5. Who must approve all judges, ambassadors, and cabinet
members that the president appoints to government positions?
The Senate must approve ambassadors, judges, and cabinet
members.
6. Who must approve any treaties that are made with foreign
countries?
The Senate must approve all treaties made with foreign countries.

12. Review the Reading Notes
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
Review the Reading Notes
Checks and Balances
7. Who has the power to veto laws?
The President has the power to veto laws.
8. What branch of government can check the power of the
judiciary by exercising the power of impeachment?
The legislative branch can impeach federal judges.

13. Video Checks and Balances
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
Video
Checks and Balances

14. A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances L 18
JUDICIAL BRANCH POWERS
1. ___________________________
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH POWERS
1. ____________________________
___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________
4. ___________________________
_____ ______________________
EXECUTIVE BRANCH POWERS
1. __________________________
__________________________
2. __________________________
3. __________________________
4. __________________________
SEPARATION OF POWERS
AND
A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES
In addition to its own separate powers, each of the three branches of government is empowered to check the other two, in order to ________________________________. This balance of national power allows for a strong ______________ government, with _______________ to prevent its becoming tyrannical.
Attach the Review Sheet
Review your notes.
Read over page 245 in
Creating America.

15. A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
SEPARATION OF POWERS
AND
A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES
In addition to its own separate powers, each of the three branches of government is empowered to check the other two, in order to _______________________________________________. This balance of national power allows for a strong _________ government, with __________ to prevent its becoming tyrannical.
keep any branch from assuming too much power
federal
safeguards

16. House of Representatives & Senate
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
The President, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, can send troops.
Only Congress can declare war.
Congress has the power to pay for wartime expenses.
Congress can pass laws limiting the President’s ability to commit troops to armed conflict (War Powers Resolution of 1973).
House of Representatives & Senate
The Federal Courts
The President, as head of the executive branch, can appoint Supreme Court Justices.
The Senate must approve all appointments to the Supreme Court.
Also only Congress can decide how many Justices there will be.
Justices are appointed for life

17. PROCESSING THE LESSON Create a poster summarizing
Lesson 3-7: Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances
PROCESSING THE LESSON
Create a poster summarizing
“separation of powers”
and
“checks and balances”
Include: ?