ThreeThreeBranches of Branches of GovernmentGovernment

The delegates at the constitutional The delegates at the constitutional convention decided to divide the convention decided to divide the national government into three national government into three branches: branches: Legislative BranchLegislative Branch, , Executive BranchExecutive Branch, and , and Judicial Judicial BranchBranch..

Separation of PowerSeparation of Power: The : The Constitution divides government Constitution divides government power among the legislative, power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.executive, and judicial branches.

The separation of power insures that The separation of power insures that no one branch of government will no one branch of government will have too much power.have too much power.

Separation of Power

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch(Congress)(Congress)

Legislative Branch(Congress)

Senate House of Representatives

Total MembersPer State

(2 per state)

Total MembersPer State

(depends on the states’

population

Powers of the Legislative Powers of the Legislative BranchBranch

make lawsmake laws declare wardeclare war collect taxescollect taxes approve or disapprove of people that approve or disapprove of people that

the President appoints or gives jobs the President appoints or gives jobs toto

remove a Supreme Court judgeremove a Supreme Court judge remove the Presidentremove the President

Executive BranchExecutive Branch(the President)(the President)

Executive Branch

President

Vice-PresidentCabinet

(a group of advisors to the

president)

Powers of the Executive Powers of the Executive BranchBranch carry out the laws and make people carry out the laws and make people

obey themobey them manage or run the governmentmanage or run the government suggest new lawssuggest new laws appoint Cabinet membersappoint Cabinet members appoint Supreme Court judgesappoint Supreme Court judges approve or reject (veto) laws made approve or reject (veto) laws made

by Congressby Congress

President

George W. Bush

Vice-President

Richard Cheney

The CabinetThe Cabinet Secretary of StateSecretary of State Secretary of TreasurySecretary of Treasury Secretary of WarSecretary of War Secretary of EducationSecretary of Education Secretary of Homeland SecuritySecretary of Homeland Security Attorney GeneralAttorney General

White HouseWhite House

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch(Supreme Court)(Supreme Court)

Supreme CourtSupreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest The Supreme Court is the highest court in nation.court in nation.

There are 9 judges (justices) on the There are 9 judges (justices) on the Supreme Court.Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court Justices are The Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President and serve appointed by the President and serve for life.for life.

Congress must approve the Congress must approve the appointmentsappointments

Powers of the Judicial Powers of the Judicial BranchBranch interpretsinterprets or or reviewsreviews laws passed by laws passed by

Congress Congress decide if a law agrees with the decide if a law agrees with the

Constitution or disagrees with it Constitution or disagrees with it (unconstitutional)(unconstitutional)

settle arguments between the statessettle arguments between the states protect the rights of the peopleprotect the rights of the people

Checks and Checks and BalancesBalances

The three branches of government have The three branches of government have roles that check, or limit, the others so roles that check, or limit, the others so that no single branch can have too much that no single branch can have too much authority.authority.

It prevents any one branch of government It prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.from becoming too powerful.

The executive checks the legislative and The executive checks the legislative and judicial. judicial.

The legislative checks the executive and The legislative checks the executive and judicial. judicial.

The judicial checks the executive and The judicial checks the executive and legislative.legislative.

Examples of Checks Examples of Checks and Balancesand Balances

Congress passes a law

The President can veto (reject) the law

Congress can reverse the president’s veto with a two-thirds vote

Example of Checks and Balances

The president can veto bills passed by Congress.

Congress can Congress can impeachimpeach (bring (bring charges against) and remove a charges against) and remove a president.president.

Supreme Court can declare laws Supreme Court can declare laws passed by Congress passed by Congress unconstitutionalunconstitutional (against the constitution). (against the constitution).

Congress approves a bill prohibiting

flag burningPresident vetoes the bill

Congress overrides thePresident’s veto

Citizen arrested for burning flag and sues

Supreme Court declares law

unconstitutional

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