What are “checks and balances?”

Who Works There?• Executive Branch

– The President– Presidential Cabinet

• Vice President of the United States• Department of State• Department of the Treasury• Department of Defense• Department of Justice• Department of the Interior• Department of Agriculture• Department of Commerce• Department of Labor• Department of Health and Human Services• Department of Housing and Urban Development• Department of Transportation• Department of Energy• Department of Education• Department of Veterans Affairs• Department of Homeland Security

Who Works There?• Judicial Branch– The Supreme Court– 9 Total Justices • 1 Chief Justice• No ties • need a decision!

Who Works There?• Legislative Branch– The Senate • Equal Representation• 2 Senators each State• 100 total senators

– House of Representatives• Proportionate Representation• Based on population• 435 total Congressman• NJ has 12 Congressman

The Executive BranchChecks the Judicial• Appoints Supreme

Court Judges• The power to Pardon

criminals

Checks the Legislative• Power to Veto• Can propose a law• Can call a special

session of congress

The Judicial BranchChecks the Executive• Supreme Court

Justices serve a life term

• Supreme Court can declare actions unconstitutional

Checks the Legislative• Supreme Court

interprets the laws• Supreme Court can

declare new laws unconstitutional

The Legislative BranchChecks the Judicial• Congress confirms or

denies new judges• Congress can

impeach judges

Checks the Executive• Congress can

override a veto• Congress can

impeach a President• Congress can confirm

or deny Presidential appointments

Legislative BranchJob Description

• Makes laws

• Can override a President's veto of a bill by 2/3 vote

• Can impeach (fire) a President or judge for misconduct

• Must approve presidents choice of judges

• Approves budget and treaties

Executive BranchJob Description

• Makes treaties with other nations

• Carries out laws

• Vetoes Congress' bills passes if he thinks they are wrong

• Appoints judges in the Judicial Branch for a life term

• Writes the budget

Judicial BranchJob Description

• Interprets laws

• May decide that some laws that Congress makes or decisions that the President make are not right according to the Constitution.