A balance of power.The writers of the U.S. Constitution didn't did·n't Contraction of did not. didn't did not didn't do want to put too much power into the hands of one person. So they created three branches of government--the legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (Supreme Court). The Constitution gives each branch powers that limit the powers of the other two. These limits are known as checks and balances. Read about how the system of checks and balances works, then fill in the blanks below. The Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, makes the country's laws. * If the President vetoes (rejects) a law, Congress can override An arrangement whereby commissions are made by sales managers based upon the sales made by their subordinate sales representatives. A term found in an agreement between a real estate agent and a property owner whereby the agent keeps the right to receive a commission for the sale of the veto veto [Lat.,=I forbid], power of one functionary (e.g., the president) of a government, or of one member of a group or coalition, to block the operation of laws or agreements passed or entered into by the other functionaries or members. In the U.S. by a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate. * Another check on the executive branch is the power of Congress to appropriate funds (decide how much money will be spent for what purpose). * The Senate must approve treaties and presidential appointments. * The House can impeach To accuse; to charge a liability upon; to sue. To dispute, disparage, deny, or contradict; as in to impeach a judgment or decree, or impeach a witness; or as used in the rule that a jury cannot impeach its verdict. (accuse ac·cuse v. ac·cused, ac·cus·ing, ac·cus·es v.tr. 1. To charge with a shortcoming or error. 2. To charge formally with a wrongdoing. v.intr. of "high crimes or misdemeanors") U.S. officials--including the President and Supreme Court Justices. * The Senate has the power to try U.S. officials who have been impeached. The President enforces U.S. laws, commands the armed forces, makes treaties, and appoints judges, ambassadors, and other officials. * The President can check the power of Congress by vetoing bills, although Congress can override a veto by a two-thirds vote of each house. * The President appoints Supreme Court Justices, although the Senate must approve such appointments. * The President can pardon pardon, in law, exemption from punishment for a criminal conviction granted by the grace of the executive of a government. A general pardon to a class of persons guilty of the same offense (e.g., insurrection) is an amnesty. persons for "offenses against the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. ," except in cases of impeachment impeachment, formal accusation issued by a legislature against a public official charged with crime or other serious misconduct. In a looser sense the term is sometimes applied also to the trial by the legislature that may follow. . The Supreme Court hears and decides "all cases ... arising under this Constitution" involving U.S. laws and treaties. Most of its cases are appeals from state or federal courts. It can try cases involving disputes between states. * The Court can check Congress by ruling that a law is unconstitutional unconstitutional adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, court decision or private contract (such as a covenant which purports to limit transfer of real property only to Caucasians) which violate one or more provisions of the U. S. Constitution. . * The Court can check the executive branch by ruling that one of its actions is unconstitutional. QUESTIONS 1. Which branch of government makes the country's laws? 2. The veto is a way in which the President can check the power of 3. The Supreme Court can stop actions by either the President or Congress by declaring them to be 4. What does impeach mean? 5. Which body has the power to impeach a government official? 6. Which body has the power to try an impeached official? 7. In which branch would legal disputes between states be settled? 8. From where do most of the Supreme Court's cases come? 9. In 1919-1920, President Woodrow Wilson wanted the U.S. to sign a treaty to join the League of Nations (an early version of the United Nations). But the U.S. refused to approve the treaty, so the U.S. did not join the League. 10. Would you rather be the President, a member of Congress, or a Supreme Court Justice? Why? ANSWER KEY Skills Master 1: A Balance of Power 1. Congress 2. Congress 3. unconstitutional 4. accuse of "high crimes or misdemeanors" 5. the House of Representatives 6. the Senate 7. judicial 8. They are appeals from state or federal courts. 9. Senate 10. Answers will vary. |
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