Checks & Balances Chart PDF

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C181- Constitutional Powers, Checks & Balances in the U.S. Federal Government The Three Branches of the Federal Government: The Legislative Branch is The U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives – Two ‘Chambers’ in Congress. The Executive Branch is The President of the U.S. and all Federal Government Bureaucracies. The Judicial Branch is The Supreme Court and the lower Federal District and Appellate Courts. Each Branch has its own MAIN powers plus more powers over the other two Branches. The powers over the other Branches are the ‘checks and balances’ each Branch has. ‘Checks and balances’ give EACH Branch some POWER OVER the other Branches. READ DOWN the Columns to find the Powers each Branch has.

The Legislative Branch The 2 Chambers/Houses of Congress have these powers: -MAIN POWERS-

The Executive Branch The President has these powers:

The Judicial Branch The Supreme Court has these powers:

-Checks & Balances over Legislative-

-Checks & Balances over Legislative-

-According to JUDICIAL REVIEW, Supreme Court can review/interpret all Legislative acts (laws) in any lawsuit and declare the law unconstitutional.

-House of Representatives can only propose bills for ne axxes/r even ne w tta en ue. -Also IF the Electoral College cannot reach majority vote, then House of Representatives will take a final vote to elect the president.

-President can Recommend Legislation to Congress (to both Chambers.) -Also gives ‘State of the Union’ speech every year to Congress. -President has power to sign Legislation passed by both Houses into LAW. -President can VETO Legislation (reject it). -Only President can ask the House of Representatives to declare War. -President can write Executive Orders & Foreign Treaties. -President can call Congress into session or adjourn them.

-Checks & Balances over Executive-

-MAIN POWERS-

-Checks & Balances over Executive-

-President and bureaucracy enforce, administer, & execute all Federal Government laws. -President manages all Federal Government bureaucracies. -President & Bureaucracies together have Rule Making/Regulatory Power.

-According to Judicial Review, Supreme Court can review all Executive acts in any lawsuit and declare actions unconstitutional.

-Power to make laws (legislate) based on ‘Enumerated’ and ‘Implied’ Powers of Article OTH I, Sec. 8; based on majority rule in BBO Chambers (or ‘Houses.’) -Power to propose Constitutional Amendments with 2/3rd’s vote in B OTH TH Chambers.

-Both Chambers must vote to d eclar e w ar only after the President asks. -Senate must Conf m all presidential nfirirm abin et Offifi cer s appointments, including CCa (Sec ecr etar ar ies),, Supreme Court Nominees, d ges Ambassadors, Federal J uud es. -Senate confirms or rejects foreign t re s reat at i ees with 2/3rd’s vote. a n O ver -Both Chambers together cca err ide de ent ’s vet si dde et o with 2/3rd’s majority vote in Pr esi both Chambers. OV VERSI -Both Chambers hold O SIGHT Hearings to investigate President/ Bureaucracies.

-Checks & Balances over Judicial-Both Chambers together can: *Create/eliminate Federal Courts. *Can impeach government officials: - House of Representatives starts by investigating and indicting (formal charge). - Then the Senate checks the House by holding a trial & voting to remove an official with a 2/3rd’s majority vote.

-President is Commander in Chief over the Military. -President prepares and oversees Federal Budget. -President appoints highest level of Cabinet Officers, Ambassadors, & political appointees in Federal Government. (Senate must confirm or President picks another person.)

-Checks & Balances over Judicial-Grant Pardons, Reprieves or Amnesty. -President nominates all Federal Judges, including Supreme Court nominees. (Senate must confirm or President picks another person.)

-The Supreme Court is the FINAL AUTHORITY on the U.S. Constitution.

-Can Issue Injunctions (Court orders)

-MAIN POWERS-Supreme Court interprets or adjudicates Federal and State Laws in court cases (lawsuits) by using its ‘Original Jurisdiction:’ Example: Cases dealing with ambassadors. -Also uses ‘Appellate Jurisdiction;’ such as State & Local Government cases dealing with ‘federal questions.’...