The Three Branches of Government and Checks and Balances

Legislative Branch

*Divided into 2 parts- Senate and House of Representatives. *Senate- 2 per state=100. Have a 6 year term. *House of Representatives based on population= 435 total. They work for 2 years. *Meets in the Capitol building in Washington D.C. *MAKE THE LAWS *Congress also has other powers, such as detaining war. *Number of representatives from each state= the number of Electoral College votes, which is how we vote for president

Executive Branch

*President, Vice President, and Cabinet work in the Executive Branch. *Main responsibility of President is to pass or veto laws. *Other responsibilities= Commander-in-Chief, directs foreign policy (ambassadors) and it is the living symbol of the nation. *15 appointed cabinet secretaries

Check and Balances

*System allows each of the 3 branches of government to check, or limit the power of the other. -Examples 1) Legislative Branch- Override the President's veto, impeach the President, or impeach Judges. 2) Executive Branch= Can veto laws, appoint Judges. 3) Judicial Branch= Can declare laws Unconstitutional. Also declare acts of Legislative/Executive Branches Unconstitutional. 4) Relations Among the States- Each state must recognize the official acts and records of another state. 5)Amending the Constitution- The Constitution is the "Supreme Law of the Land." States may not make laws that violate the Constitution. 6) Ratification- Sets up a procedure for states to Ratify the Constitution.

Judicial Branch

*The court system *Biggest and most important Supreme Court. *Various levels of courts in U.S., but Supreme Court is superior to all. *Lower courts try cases and juries can appeal, which can ultimately make it to the supreme court. *9 Supreme Court Justices appointed by the President for life.