Three Branches of the
Government
System of Checks and Balances
• No single branch is permitted the
freedom of unlimited power.
Executive –
President and
Commander in
Chief
•Vice President – President of Senate
•Cabinet – Heads of Departments ( Secretary of: Defense, Treasury, State,
Justice, Energy, Interior, Homeland Security, Transportation, etc.)
•Head of Cabinet is the Attorney General
Judicial – Federal
Courts
•Supreme Court
•9 Justices for life – Chief Justice + 8 Justices
•Apply Constitution to laws – can find law unconstitutional. Law must obey the
Constitution
•Appellate Court
Legislative Congress
•Senate – 100 Representatives (2 from each state)
•House of Representatives – Proportionate to state population
•Propose Laws (Bills)
•“Power of the Purse”
Executive Branch
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President – signs Bill into Law
Appoints Justices for life
Appoints “Secretaries”
Pardons
Declare War
Override Veto (2/3)
Approve Treaty
Controls Funds
Veto
• Gun Control – Amendment 2 – A well-regulated
militia being necessary to the security of a free
state, the right of the people to keep and bear
arms shall not be infringed upon.
• School $
• Bridges
• Roads
• Signs bills into law {Checks & Balances}
Judicial Branch
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Supreme Court
Apply Constitution to Laws
Find laws Unconstitutional
Appellate Court (empowered to review
judicial decisions)
Legislative
• “Law-makers”
• Propose Laws
• Approve Justices
Impeach
Executive
Bill
Legislative
Veto
Override
Approve all Executive appointments
Judicial
•Grants pardons and reprieves
to federal offenders.
• President appoints Supreme
Court Justices and other
federal judges
Can declare laws
unconstitutional.
Judicial
Can declare laws or
executive acts
unconstitutional
Executive
•President can veto bills and
appeal to people in speeches.
•President can appeal to Congress
in messages and can call special
sessions
•Can impeach and remove
President from office.
•Can overrule President’s veto.
•Senate can refuse to ratify
treaties.
•Senate can refuse to confirm
appointments.
•Can impeach judges.
•Senate can refuse to confirm
appointments.
•Can propose amendments to
overrule judicial decisions.
Legislative