Your Government TheU.S. Constitution sets up three branches: Article I The Legislative Makes Laws Article II The Executive Enforces the Laws Article III The Judicial Interprets the laws
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Separation of PowersWhat is it? This is the idea that a government functions best when its powers do not rest in a single authority but are instead divided among different branches
The Separation ofPowers Executive Branch The President Powers of the President: Power to control the agencies that enforce the laws Power to negotiate treaties Power to nominate judges Power to pardon people convicted of crimes Legislative Branch The U.S. Congress Powers of Congress: Power to pass legislation Power to declare war Power over the Budget Power to establish courts Judicial Branch The Supreme Court and other Federal Courts Powers of the Courts: Power to review laws passed by Congress Power to review actions made by the President
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Checks and BalancesThe Framers did more than just separate powers: They created a system that separated and blended the powers of the government so that each branch serves as a check and balance on the others
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The Separation ofPowers Executive Branch The President Powers of the President: Power to control the agencies that enforce the laws Power to negotiate treaties Power to nominate judges Power to pardon people convicted of crimes How it checks other branches: He/She can veto legislation He/She appoints/nominates federal judgeship Can call Congress into session Legislative Branch The U.S. Congress Powers of Congress: Power to pass legislation Power to declare war Power over the Budget Power to establish courts How it checks other branches: It approves all treaties Can impeach the president Can override a presidential veto It creates the agencies and programs that enforce the law Confirms executive judgeship nominees & can impeach judges Can amend the Constitution Judicial Branch The Supreme Court and other Federal Courts Powers of the Courts: Power to review laws passed by Congress Power to review actions made by the President How it checks other branches: Can declare executive actions unconstitutional Can interpret laws and declare legislation unconstitutional Can interpret treaties as unconstitutional
Checks and BalancesMay impeach judges May interpret laws May declare laws unconstitutional May interpret treaties May declare executive acts unconstitutional Appoints federal judges May veto acts of Congress May call Congress into special session May override a presidential veto Approves appointments of judges Approves treaties May impeach the President
