Unit I Lesson 5

Checks and Balances in the U.S.

Constitution

Checks and Balances

Separation of

Powers

Essential Questions:

• What are the origins of American government?

• What type of government was established at the Constitutional Convention of 1789?

• How was our government shaped by the historical situation at the time and the philosophical tradition that influenced the framers of the constitution?

Federalists

“Congress”

Separation of

Powers

Legislative Branch

Montesquieu

“The President”Executive Branch

“The Courts”Judicial Branch

Separation of

Powers

Montesquieu

Separation of

Powers

Potential for the

Checks and Balances – Each branch in the national

government exercises some control over the others so that

all three remain equal

(Think “Rock, Paper, Scissors”)

Separation

of Powers

Step 1

Checks and

Balances

Step 2

Separation of

The

Executive

Branch

Article II

The Legislative

Branch

Article I

The

Executive

Branch

The Legislative

Branch

Unconstitutional

Separation

of Powers

Step 1

Checks and

Balances

Step 2

“Checks and Balances” is a key principle in the U.S. Constitution that:

A. Allows each branch of the national government to reign in the power of the others

B. Divides the national government’s powers between three branches of government

C. Allows for the government’s power to be divided between national and state levels

D. Protects the individual rights of citizens from an overly powerful national government

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances established by the U.S.

Constitution?

A. A requirement that states raise their legal drinking age to eighteen as a condition of receiving federal funds

B. Media criticism of public officials during an election campaign period

C. A citizen’s right to trial by jury in civil cases

D. The requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the U.S. Senate