1. Checks & Balances in the Federal Government
Unit 3 lesson 4

2. 1) The American constitutional system includes an idea known as the ___________________.
(a) Separation of Powers: _______________________________________________
________________
2) In this system, several branches of government are created and power is _____________ between them.
 3) At the same time, the powers of one branch can be ___________ by another branch.
Separation of Powers
the split of authority among the legislative, executive, and
judicial branches
shared
challenged

3. 4) This is what the system of __________________ is all about.
(b) Checks & Balances: _______________________________________________
___________________________________
5) There are _____ branches in the United States government as established by the Constitution.
First, the __________ branch ______ the law.
Second, the _________ branch ________ the law.
Last, the _______ branch _________ the law.
6) Each branch has an effect on the other and the power to check each other.
checks and balances
a system in which each branch of government is able to check, or restrain, the power of the other
three
Legislative
makes
Executive
enforces
Judicial
interprets

4. I. Legislative Branch
(congress)

5. I. Legislative Branch (Congress)
Checks on the Executive Branch:
1) ________________ (House of Representatives only).
(c) Impeach: ______________________________________________
2) _______________________ (Senate only).
3) The House of Representatives may select the _________ and the Senate may select the ______________in case there is no ______________________.
Power to impeach
to accuse government officials of wrongdoing in office
Trial of impeached officials
to accuse government officials of wrongdoing in office
President
Vice-President
majority of electoral votes

6. 4) May override _________________ with a ________ in ___________.
(d) Override: ________________________________________
5) Senate approves _______________________.
6) Senate approves ­­­­­­­­­­­­­______________________.
Presidential vetoes
2/3 vote
both houses
to overturn or make something no longer legal
presidential appointments
treaties and ambassadors

7. 7) Approval of _________________________.
8) Power to __________.
9) Power to ___________________________.
10) President must, from time-to-time, _______________________________.
a replacement Vice President
declare war
make tax laws and collect taxes
deliver a State of the Union address

8. B. Checks on the Judicial Branch:
Senate approves _____________.
2) ________________ (House of Representatives only).
(c) Impeach: ­­­­­_____________________________________________
3) _______________________ (Senate only).
(c) Impeach: ______________________________________________
4) Power to _____________________________.
federal judges
Power to impeach
to accuse government officials of wrongdoing in office
Trial of impeached officials
to accuse government officials of wrongdoing in office
begin constitutional amendments

9. Power to ______________________________________.
(e) Jurisdiction: ­­­­­____________________________________
7) Power to ________________________________.
create courts inferior to the Supreme Court
set jurisdiction of courts
a court’s authority to hear & decide cases
change the size of the Supreme Court

10. Tax bills may only start in the House of Representatives.
C. Checks on the Legislative Branch (because it is bicameral, the Legislative branch has some powers of self-checking):
Bills must be passed by both houses of Congress.
Tax bills may only start in the House of Representatives.
Neither house may adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other house. 1) 2) 3)

11. (The president and cabinet)
II. Executive Branch
(The president and cabinet)

12. II. Executive Branch (Presidency)
 Checks on the Legislative Branch:
Veto power.
(f) Veto: to reject a decision or bill made by Congress
Vice President is President of the Senate.
Commander-in-chief of the military. 1) 2) 3)

13. Can make recess appointments.
(g) recess appointments: the appointment of federal officials by the President when the Senate is on break
Can call both houses of Congress into session during an emergency. 4) 5)

14. 6) 7)
May force adjournment when both houses cannot agree on adjournment.
(h) adjourn: to end a meeting but plan to start again
later
The amount paid to the President cannot be lowered.

15. B. Checks on the Judicial Branch:
Power to appoint judges.
Power to grant pardons. 1) 2)

16. C. Checks on the Executive Branch:
Vice President and Cabinet can vote that the President is unable to fulfill their duties. 1)

17. III. Judicial Branch
(The courts system)

18. III. Judicial Branch (The Courts)
 Checks on the Legislative Branch:
Judicial review
(i) Judicial Review: the power of the federal courts to declare laws of Congress or actions of the President unconstitutional (illegal) 1)

19. Seats are held on good behavior (the President or Congress can’t fire federal judges).
The amount paid to the judges cannot be lowered. 2) 3)

20. B. Checks on the Executive Branch:
Judicial review
(i) Judicial Review: the power of the federal courts to declare laws of Congress or actions of the President unconstitutional (illegal) 1)

21. The Chief Justice sits as the President of the Senate during presidential impeachment.2)