Directions

Take your time. You will receive a grade based your first attempt or your first and second attempts will be averaged together.

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If you make a mistake read over the slide that follows the question to help you understand it better for your second attempt

Purpose of Checks and Balances

Each branch has the power to limit the other branches. This is so that no branch can be too powerful. Checks and balances do not make it easier for branches do their job, because the branches have to check on the other branches on top of doing their own jobs

Now you will review examples of checks and balances

Study the tips & strategies on the next two slides. These tips will help you to get your answers right!

The President can appoint Supreme Court Justices

The Justices are in the Judicial Branch so they are the ones being "checked/balanced" by the President appointing them

The legislative branch (specifically the Senate) approves appointments

The President makes the appointments and the appointment is what is being checked on. Therefore the Legislative is checking on the Executive.

The Legislative branch approves treaties

The Executive branch is being checked on because they make the treaties (The President is in charge of foreign policy)

The Legislative branch has the power to impeach members of government

The President is in the Executive branch so the executive branch is being checked on

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​You can remember that the Judicial branch does not impeach because their own check on other branches is to declare something unconstitutional

The President can propose (suggest) ideas for laws

Since the legislative branch makes the laws they are being checked on

The President can approve or veto laws

Since laws are made by the legislative branch, the legislative branch is being checked on

The legislative branch can override a veto

Since a veto can only be made by the executive branch, the executive branch is being checked on

The President has the power to pardon someone convicted of a federal crime

Since the judicial branch is the branch that convicts criminals, the Judicial branch's power is being checked on by the executive branch

The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution so they can declare something unconstitutional

Since the legislative branch made the law, they are being checked on

The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution so they can declare something unconstitutional

Since it is the executive branch that did something unconstitutional, they are being checked on

The Legislative branch has the power to impeach members of government

The Supreme Court is in the Judicial Branch so they are being checked on in this example