Name
Dat e
ThreeBranchesofGovernment
"ChecksandBalances"
LEGISLATIVE:
Yeah.It'sthelegislativebranch.I'mtheonethatpassthelaws.Soifyouwanttomakesomethinghappen,
you'vegottogothroughme.
EXECUTIVE:
It'stheexecutivebranch.Who'scallingtheshotsintheovaloffice?
JUDICIAL:Yeah,yeah,it'sthecourts.Judicial.
Itgoescheck,checktostaybalanced,
Notjustone,webringthreetalents.
Thepowers?Gottokeep'emseparated,
That'sthemotto,wemadeit.
3branchesofgovernment,that'sall:
Legislativewritesthelaws,
Executiveexecuteslaws—soofficial,
ThecourtsystemisJudicial.
LEGISLATIVE:
I'mthelegislativebranch,Iwritelaws,
Withoutme,it'dbeanarchyofcourse.
Saymyname:I'mcalledCongress,
SittingonCapitolHill,kidthat'shonest.
MadeupoftheSenateandtheHouseofReps,
WewriteabillandsendittothePresident'sdesk.
Welegislate,andwerolldeep,
535membersinmyclique,see?
Senate?Eachstatesendstwo,
100senatorsinall,that'showwedo.
TheHouseofRepresentativesisbypopulation,
Calirepsthehardest,nodebating.
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IfmybillsgetaPresidentialveto,
Icanoverridethatwithenoughpeople.
IwrotethebudgetandI'mpassingthelaws,
NowI'mmagrabthemicandpassitoff...
EXECUTIVE:
Oh,heyCongress—sometimesIneedtomesswithyourplans,
Icarryoutlaws,I'mtheExecutivebranch,
I'mthepresident,rollwiththeVPandcabinet,
AndI'llvetoyourlawsifI'mnothavingit.
Sohailtothecommanderinchief,
Allthearmedforcesneedtofollowme.
MypowersbeenblossomingsinceGeorgeWashington
Steppedtotheofficeanddidawesomethings.
I'vegotabowlingalleyinmyhome,
WhereIcallinairstrikesfrominvisibledrones.
WhoappointstheCabinetandjudgestoo?
ThebossintheOvalOfficethat'swho.
JUDICIAL:Checkcheck,I'mmakeepitshort,
TheJudicialsystem,I'mthecourts.
Myhighestcourt,that'sSupreme,
All9justicesknowwhatImean:
Nominatedbythepres,confirmedbytheSenate,
Notermlimits,theyservealifesentence.
Pleadyourcase,it'snotunusual,
Formetorulealawunconstitutional.
LEGISLATIVE:
SoIwritealaw.
EXECUTIVE:
Well,Imightvetoit.
LEGISLATIVE:
AndIcanoverridethat,youknowit.
EXECUTIVE:
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Man,I'mexecutive,theonethatcarriesitout.
JUDICIAL:
Itcangetchallengedinthecourts,that'swhatI'mallabout.
Imightdeclareitunconstitutional.
LEGISLATIVE:
Icanimpeachjudgeswhoactunusual,
EXECUTIVE:
Inominatejusticesinthefirstplace.
LEGISLATIVE:
Icanimpeachyoutooifyoustepoutofplace.
3branchesofgovernment,that'sall:
Legislativewritesthelaws,
Executiveexecuteslaws—soofficial,
ThecourtsystemisJudicial.(x2)
Itgoescheck,checktostaybalanced,
Notjustone,webringthreetalents.
Thepowers?Gottokeep'emseparated,
That'sthemotto,wemadeit.
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