1. What are “checks and balances?”

3. Who Works There? Executive Branch The President Presidential Cabinet
Vice President of the United States
Department of State
Department of the Treasury
Department of Defense
Department of Justice
Department of the Interior
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Labor
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Transportation
Department of Energy
Department of Education
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Homeland Security

4. Who Works There? Judicial Branch The Supreme Court 9 Total Justices
1 Chief Justice
No ties
need a decision!

5. Who Works There? Legislative Branch The Senate
Equal Representation
2 Senators each State
100 total senators
House of Representatives
Proportionate Representation
Based on population
435 total Congressman
NJ has 12 Congressman

6. The Executive Branch Checks the Judicial Appoints Supreme Court Judges
The power to Pardon criminals
Checks the Legislative
Power to Veto
Can propose a law
Can call a special session of congress

7. The Judicial Branch Checks the Executive
Supreme Court Justices serve a life term
Supreme Court can declare actions unconstitutional
Checks the Legislative
Supreme Court interprets the laws
Supreme Court can declare new laws unconstitutional

8. The Legislative Branch
Checks the Judicial
Congress confirms or denies new judges
Congress can impeach judges
Checks the Executive
Congress can override a veto
Congress can impeach a President
Congress can confirm or deny Presidential appointments

10. Legislative Branch Job Description
Makes laws
Can override a President's veto of a bill by 2/3 vote
Can impeach (fire) a President or judge for misconduct
Must approve presidents choice of judges
Approves budget and treaties

11. Executive Branch Job Description
Makes treaties with other nations
Carries out laws
Vetoes Congress' bills  passes if he thinks they are wrong
Appoints judges in the Judicial Branch for a life term
Writes the budget

12. Judicial Branch Job Description
Interprets laws
May decide that some laws that Congress makes or decisions that the President make are not right according to the Constitution.