We the People.. The Failings of the Articles of Confederation and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

We the People…..

The Failings of the Articles of Confederation and the Solutions of the Constitutional Convention Unit Two- BF

Checks and Balances * Though not specifically written into the Constitution, the principle of checks and balances was intended by the founding father’s and is a principle inherent to the Constitution * Its main purpose is to prevent one branch of government from becoming so powerful that it overwhelms the others * The Constitution establishes three main branches of government: * The Legislative, responsible for making laws, known as Congress * The Executive, responsible for enforcing laws, known as the President * The Judicial, responsible for interpreting laws, led by the Supreme Court * Each of these branches has a power that it can use to limit the power of the other two branches

Checks and Balances

• Congress checks the executive branch by having the power to approve, or

disapprove of Presidential appointments to offices, with a majority vote of the Senate

• In addition, they can also override a Presidential veto with a 2/3rd’s vote of the

entire Congress

• Congress checks the judicial branch by approving or disapproving of appointments

to the Supreme Court, thereby affecting its philosophical leanings

• The President checks Congress by having the power to veto laws that Congress

passes, if he does not agree with them Checks and Balances

• The President checks the Supreme Court by having the power to appoint members

to it that see things in the same philosophical perspective as him

• The Supreme Court checks both the Congress and the President by being able to

declare a law unconstitutional, if a majority of the court does not feel it to be in line with the guarantees or rules laid out in our Constitution and subsequent amendments. Checks and Balances