Separation of Powers/ Checks and Balances

Montesquieu

Came with the idea of separation of powers and checks & balances. He believed the gov't worked best when power was divided into 3 branches.

"We the people"

Means that we the citizens of the U.S hold the power and establish this constitution.

Judicial Branch CHECKS

- JUDICIAL REVIEW AGAINST both the Executive and Legislative branch.

Legislative CHECKS

-Have the powers of overriding a veto AGAINST the Executive Branch -Approving federal judges AGAINST the Judicial Branch -Impeachment AGAINST the Executive and Judicial Branches

Executive CHECKS

-Veto: to deny a legislative bill( law) AGAINST the Legislative branch. -Appoints federal judges AGAINST the Judicial branch

Executive Branch/PRESIDENT

ENFORCES LAWS *Made up of the president and his cabinet members

Judicial Branch/SUPREME COURT

INTERPRET LAWS * Made up of the federal courts and the Supreme Court.

Legislative Branch/CONGRESS

MAKES THE LAWS *Made up of TWO HOUSES 1. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (# based on population) 2. SENATE (Every state gets 2) THE ONLY BRANCH THAT CAN VOTE TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION!

Judicial Review

The courts ability to determine if a law or action is fair or not(unconstitutional) according to the Constitution.

Separation of Powers

The idea that government should be divided into 3 distinct and separate branches, such as the legislative branch, executive branch and the judicial branch.

Checks and Balances

The system the ensures that ALL of the branches maintain equal power by giving each of them a check against one another.

Amendment Process

This process is done by the LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TWO STEPS: 1. Propose: 2/3 of BOTH houses of congress propose the new change to the constitution 2. Ratify: 3/4 of states ratify(APPROVE) the changes to the constitution.

Madison v. Marbury

U.S. Supreme Court case that established JUDICIAL REVIEW.