AP Government Checks & Balances Study/Cheat Sheet Exam 2020 PDF

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Summary

Interactions Between Branches of Government: checks and balances between legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government cheat sheet ...

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CHECKS ON THE JUDICIAL BRANCH ● LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CAN.. ○ Impeach Judges ○ Senate can approve/disapprove of presidential appointments to alter composition of the judiciary (more conservative/liberal judges) ■ Do not make much of an impact in practice because simple disagreements are not adequate grounds to enact these checks ○ Alter the number of judges ■ By increasing the number sharply, a president has a chance to appoint judges to his liking. ○ Undo a Supreme Court decision interpreting the Constitution by proposing an amendment ■ Happens rarely ■ Ex. 13th, 14th, & 15th amendment undid Dred Scott  decision ○ Repass a law that Court declared unconstitutional by revising it ○ Decide the entire jurisdiction of lower courts and appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court ■ Prevent Courts from hearing cases before they even occur ■ Threaten jurisdiction-stripping to influence Court decision ■ Denying Supreme Court appellate jurisdictions leaves lower courts to decide as they wish ● EXECUTIVE BRANCH CAN.. ○ Appoint federal judges & Supreme Court Justices ○ Pardon Criminal Convictions ■ Only in cases where a criminal commited a crime against the state(Gov. pardon) or against the United States(Presidential pardon) ● THE PEOPLE CAN.. ○ Influence other branches to check judiciary ○ Restrain/energize Court with public opinion CHECKS ON THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ● JUDICIAL BRANCH CAN.. ○ Interpret laws in court ○ Declare legislative laws unconstitutional ● EXECUTIVE BRANCH CAN.. ○ Veto laws ○ Pocket veto ○ Issue executive order to override legislation ○ Convene Congress ○ Ask Congress to propose a law ○ Exercise executive privilege (withhold info from Congress) ○ Issue signing statements (document revealing president’s thoughts on new law and how it should be enforced)(often blocks enforcement of a law)

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THE PEOPLE CAN.. ○ Influence legislators to vote as their constituents want, especially on issues they are passionate about ○ Vote for their legislators CHECKS ON THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ● JUDICIAL BRANCH CAN.. ○ Declare executive acts unconstitutional ○ Not be fired by president ● LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CAN.. ○ Override presidential veto ○ Approve presidential appointments and foreign treaties ○ Impeach president ○ Approve budget CHECKS ON THE BUREAUCRACY ● LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CAN.. ○ Authorize whether an agency exists/continues ○ Appropriate how much money an agency spends ○ Hold oversight hearings and launch investigations into agency ○ Review and dis/approve agency decisions without passing law ○ Authorize bureaucrats to operate independently of president ● JUDICIAL BRANCH CAN.. ○ Impose constraints on the agency if it is involved in a lawsuit

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