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Understanding the U.S. Constitution's Checks and Balances System

Explore how the U.S. Constitution's system of checks and balances ensures that no branch of government obtains excessive power. Discover the various ways each branch can check the power of the others.

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Understanding the U.S. Constitution's Checks and Balances System

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  1. Aim: How does the U.S. Constitution's system of “Checks and Balances” work? Do Now: Why do you think a government might need a system where one branch of the government has some control over what another branch does?

  2. The Constitution established a government based on a system of Checks and Balances • These checks keep any one branch from gaining too much power. Each branch can check the power of the other.

  3. Examples of Checks and Balances If Congress passes a bill the President doesn't like… Executive Legislative

  4. Examples of Checks and Balances …he can veto the bill… Executive Legislative

  5. Examples of Checks and Balances But Congress can pass the bill into law over the veto by a vote of 2/3 of its members… Executive Legislative

  6. Examples of Checks and Balances Congress also has the ability to impeach the President (remove him from office) if he commits "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors". Executive Legislative

  7. Examples of Checks and Balances If Congress passes a law that The Supreme Court finds unconstitutional the law can no longer be used Legislative Judicial

  8. Examples of Checks and Balances But Congress has the power to change the Constitution by passing amendments (changes) to it, although… Legislative Judicial

  9. It is not easy to change the Constitution. Two-thirds of the House and Senate need to approve of the proposal and send it to the states for a vote. Then, three-fourths of the state legislatures must also affirm the proposed Amendment. Since 1787, over 9,000 amendments have been proposed, but only 27 have been approved.

  10. Examples of Checks and Balances The Supreme Court can decide that a president's action is unconstitutional Executive Judicial

  11. Examples of Checks and Balances But it’s the President who selects candidates for the Supreme Court when one of the Justices retires or dies. Judicial Executive

  12. Name one way in which: • The Executive branch of our government checks the power of the Legislative branch. • The Legislative checks the Executive • The Judicial checks the Legislative • The Legislative checks the Judicial • The Executive checks the Judicial • The Judicial checks the Executive

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