1/12/151/12/15– – BR- BR- Federalism Federalism: government in which : government in which power is divided betweenpower is divided between , , , , and and ------------------ ------------------..Separation of powersSeparation of powers: Constitutional : Constitutional principle that limits powers vested in any principle that limits powers vested in any person or individual; division of powers person or individual; division of powers between thebetween the ------------------, ------------------, , , and and . .

TodayToday: Understanding Federalism and : Understanding Federalism and The Branches of GovernmentThe Branches of Government

Separation of PowersSeparation of PowersChecks and BalancesChecks and Balances

How do these How do these principles of principles of

democracy protect democracy protect the people?the people?

Separation of Separation of PowersPowers

•Dividing different powers Dividing different powers among three branches of among three branches of governmentgovernment

•Prevents one branch from Prevents one branch from gaining too much powergaining too much power

•Legislative, Judicial, and Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches have their Executive branches have their own unique powersown unique powers

Vocabulary Journal #15Vocabulary Journal #15

Checks and Balances Checks and Balances : the : the constitutional concept that each constitutional concept that each branch of the government has power branch of the government has power to regulate or check the other to regulate or check the other branches. This idea tries to ensure that branches. This idea tries to ensure that now one branch of government will now one branch of government will become too powerfulbecome too powerful

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Dividing the Federal GovernmentDividing the Federal Government

• The Founding Fathers believed The Founding Fathers believed that the only way to keep the that the only way to keep the Federal Government from Federal Government from gaining too much power was to gaining too much power was to divide it into three parts:divide it into three parts:– The Legislature – Makes LawsThe Legislature – Makes Laws

– The Executive – Enforces LawsThe Executive – Enforces Laws

– The Judicial – Interprets LawsThe Judicial – Interprets Laws

What are Checks and Balances?What are Checks and Balances?

• Checks and Balances were Checks and Balances were built into the Constitution built into the Constitution to ensure that no one to ensure that no one branch of government ever branch of government ever became too powerful.became too powerful.

• It gives each branch of It gives each branch of government some power government some power over the othersover the others

Legislative vs. ExecutiveLegislative vs. Executive• Congress can pass new Congress can pass new

billsbills • President must approve or veto these bills

• Congress can override presidential vetoes with a 2/3 majority vote

• President can make treaties and appoint Supreme Court Justices

• The Senate must approve all appointments and treaties

• Congress can impeach and remove president from office

John Roberts(Chief Justice)

Legislative vs. JudicialLegislative vs. Judicial

• The Senate must The Senate must approve Supreme approve Supreme Court nominationsCourt nominations

• The Supreme Court can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional

• Congress can impeach and remove federal judges

Executive vs. JudicialExecutive vs. Judicial

• The President appoints The President appoints all Supreme Court all Supreme Court JusticesJustices

• The Supreme Court can declare any executive acts unconstitutional

• Newest Supreme Court Justice: Sonia Sotomayor

AnalysisAnalysis•Why is it important to Why is it important to separate the powers separate the powers of the government? of the government? Think about the other Think about the other principles of principles of democracy…democracy…

Checks and Checks and BalancesBalances•Powers each branch has that Powers each branch has that

allows them to check up on the allows them to check up on the other branchesother branches

•Prevents branches from abusing Prevents branches from abusing their powerstheir powers

•Preserves the separation of Preserves the separation of powerspowers

•Requires cooperation between Requires cooperation between the branches of governmentthe branches of government

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch(House and Senate)(House and Senate)

•Can override a presidential vetoCan override a presidential veto

•Can impeach and remove the Can impeach and remove the presidentpresident

•Ratifies presidential appointmentsRatifies presidential appointments

•Authorizes/appropriates funds for Authorizes/appropriates funds for legislationlegislation

•Checks on the judiciaryChecks on the judiciary

•Can impeach and remove judgesCan impeach and remove judges

•Confirms federal judgesConfirms federal judges

Executive BranchExecutive Branch(President and Cabinet)(President and Cabinet)

•Proposes legislation (laws)Proposes legislation (laws)

•Vetoes legislation (laws)Vetoes legislation (laws)

•Makes treaties w/ foreign Makes treaties w/ foreign countriescountries

•Checks on the judiciaryChecks on the judiciary

•Appoints federal judgesAppoints federal judges

•Enforces court decisionsEnforces court decisions

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch(Supreme Court and Lower (Supreme Court and Lower

Courts)Courts)•Reviews executive decisionsReviews executive decisions

•Checks on CongressChecks on Congress

•Reviews congressional laws Reviews congressional laws

•Judicial Review (executive and Judicial Review (executive and legislative)legislative)

•Supreme Court Justices Supreme Court Justices appointed for lifeappointed for life

AnalysisAnalysis•What are some problems with the What are some problems with the

checks and balances system?checks and balances system?

•The Constitution is vague in some The Constitution is vague in some parts of these powers. How can this parts of these powers. How can this cause a problem for each branch?cause a problem for each branch?

•How does this system promote How does this system promote cooperation between the branches of cooperation between the branches of government?government?

•Which branch has the most power? Which branch has the most power? Why?Why?

To do:To do:

• Create a chart like the one I showed Create a chart like the one I showed that illustrates at least that illustrates at least twotwo ways ways each branch check on the othereach branch check on the other