CHECKS AND BALANCES IN

THE USA

THE SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND

BALANCES IN GOVERNMENT WAS
DEVELOPED TO ENSURE THAT NO
ONE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT
WOULD BECOME TOO POWERFUL
SEPARATION OF POWERS

The Separation of Powers

was designed by the
makers of the
Constitution. This system
serves many goals. The
Separation prevents
accumulation of power to
one authority, which is
the main cause of
tyranny.
 HOW DOES IT
WORK?
The legislative branch proposes a bill.
Then the bill is voted on by Congress
and sent to the executive branch. The
president will then decide whether or
not the bill will improve our country. If
the president believes the bill is a good
idea he will sign the bill, and it
becomes a law
Now once the bill has become a law, the people of the United States try out the
new laws in the courts, which are run by the judicial branch. A person can file a
lawsuit if they believe a law is not constitutional.
 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH HAS THE POWER TO
MAKE LAWS. IT ALSO HAS THE POWER TO RUN
THE FOLLOWING CHECKS OVER THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH. THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ALSO HAS
THE POWER TO REMOVE THE PRESIDENT FROM
OFFICE.
The legislative branch also has “the power of the purse”,
which means that they control how money in spent in
the government
 EXECUTIVE BRANCH

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCHES MAIN GOAL IS TO CARRY OUT THE LAWS. THE MOST
IMPORTANT POWER THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS OVER THE OTHERS IS THE
POWER TO VETO. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS THE POWER OVER THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TO CALL IMPORTANT SESSIONS OF CONGRESS.
JUDICIAL BRANCH

The judicial branch also runs checks on the other branches of

government. The judges of the judicial branch are in office for
life and are not controlled by the executive branch.

Judicial review is the power that the judicial branch has over
the legislative and the executive branch to review a law or
treaty and determine whether or not it is constitutional.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!