Checks+and+Balances

=The Constitution insured that no single branch of government gained too much power=

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The Constitution was created so one specific branch could not gain more power over another branch. The three branches of government are the Executive branch, the Legislative branch and the Judicial branch. Each of the three branches has checks on each other. For example; The Executive branch gets to appoint the Supreme Court Justices (a check on the Judicial branch), and the Legislative branch can approve or disapprove the appointed Supreme Court Justice (a check on the Executive branch). Our founding fathers made the government this way after their original plan, The Articles of Confederation, failed. They did not want one specific person to gain too much power over the citizens of America, such as the king of Britain did to them before the American Revolution. One of the reasons they revolted was because they did not like how they were not represented in the government, and they were still taxed as if they were. They did not want this type of injustice to happen to the people in their new country. Checks and Balances help ensure that the government cannot gain too much power over the citizens of America. ====== =Checks and Balances: In depth=

Over the Executive Branch:

 * The Judicial branch can declare the presidential actions unconstitutional. This means that if the President does something that the Supreme Court does not agree with, they can send the President to trial for his actions.

Over the Legislative Branch:

 * The Judicial branch can delcare laws unconstitutional, meaning that if they think a law violates the Constitution, they can state that it is unconstitutional and the law cannot be passed.

Over the Judicial Branch:

 * The Excecutive Branch is responsible for appointing the Supreme Court Justices. This means that the Justices are choosen by the president.

Over the Legislative Branch:

 * The Executive Branch can veto laws that were passed by the Legislative Branch. If they president does not think a law is right, he will not let it pass.

Over the Judicial Branch:

 * The Legislative Branch has the power to remove Supreme Court Justices if they believe they are not acting as though they should. If a Justice is not doing their job, the Legislative Branch can impeach them.
 * The Legislative Branch approves the Presidential choices for the Supreme Court Justice. If the president appoints someone that is not worthy of holding that specific job position (a Supreme Court Justice), then the Legislative branch can disapprove them.

Over the Executive Branch:
The picture to the right shows the basics of Checks and Balances in the American Goverment.
 * The Legislative branch can override a presidents veto if 3/4 of the members believe that the law should be passed. This means that if the President doesn't like a law and the Legislative branch does, they can pass the law anyways.
 * The Legislative branch holds the court if a president is impeached. If a majority of the members of the Legislative branch agree that the Presidential actions were not constitutional, then they can remove the president from office.