1. Explain the Principles of separation of powers and checks and balances
Objective 2.5
Explain the Principles of separation of powers and checks and balances
KQ- How does the Constitution limit the power of the government?

2. Limited Government
Among the most important principles of our democracy is the principle of limited government

3. limited government The power of the government is NOT absolute
No one person/group has total control
Controls are put in place to prevent abuses of gov’t power

4. Example of limited government
Rule of law government powers are limited by the laws put in place to keep order and protect people’s safety and rights

5. Limited government in
the Constitution
The US Constitution has several strategies in place to limit the powers of the federal government
Separation of powers
Checks and balances

6. dividing all the main powers of gov’t so that no
separation of powers
dividing all the main powers of gov’t so that no
one person (or branch of gov)
has total control

7. Separation of Powers
To separate the powers of the federal government, the US Constitution created 3 branches and divided the major powers among them

8. Separation of Powers

9. separation of powers All the powers of government are divided into 3 parts:
Make Laws
Enforce Laws
Interpret laws & settle conflicts

10. separation of powers All the powers of government are divided into 3 parts:
Legislative Branch
Congress
Executive Branch
President
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court

11. Separation of powers
Use the text pgs and pg. 10 to complete the chart displaying how the powers of the federal gov’t are separated.

12. checks and balances
a system in which each branch of gov’t is given powers that limit the power of the other branches

13. checks and balances a branch can prevent other branches from abusing power
Legislative
Executive
Judicial

14. Checks and Balances

15. Call for a special
session of
Congress
Executive
Veto bill
Legislative

16. Override veto Impeach & remove President Approve/reject Presidential
Executive
Override veto
Approve/reject
Presidential
appointments
Legislative

17. Grant pardons and reprieves Appoints all Federal judges Executive
(overrides a judge’s decision)
Executive
Appoints all
Federal judges
Judicial

18. Declare an act of the executive Unconstitutional (judicial review)

19. appointments to courts
Impeach and remove
federal judges
Approve/reject
appointments to courts
Legislative
Judicial

20. Declare Laws passed Unconstitutional (judicial review) Legislative

23. Congress
Approves
Impeaches
Overrides veto
President
Appoints
Vetoes
Pardon/Reprieve
Supreme Court
Judicial Review=
Declares acts unconstitutional

24. It all balances out in the end

25. Now let’s see if you can identify who does the checking and who gets checked. Example: Legislative checks Executive L > E

26. 1. Veto a law
E > L

27. 2. Declare law unconstitutional
J > L

28. 3. Appoint judge
E > J

29. 4. Impeach and remove President
L > E

30. 5. Override veto
L > E