What are “checks and
balances?”
Who Works There?
• Executive Branch
– The President
– Presidential Cabinet
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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
Who Works There?
• Judicial Branch
– The Supreme Court
– 9 Total Justices
• 1 Chief Justice
• No ties
• need a decision!
Who Works There?
• Legislative Branch
– The Senate
• Equal Representation
• 2 Senators each State
• 100 total senators
– House of Representatives
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Proportionate Representation
Based on population
435 total Congressman
NJ has 12 Congressman
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
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
The Legislative Branch
Checks the Judicial
Checks the Executive
• Congress confirms or • Congress can
denies new judges
override a veto
• Congress can
• Congress can
impeach judges
impeach a President
• Congress can
confirm or deny
Presidential
appointments
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
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
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.