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 2/3 rd ’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

Checks and Balances • The President checks Congress by having the power to veto laws that Congress passes, if he does not agree with them • 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

Checks and Balances • 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.