US Government: Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

Separation of Powers

• The Constitution divides power among three branches of government:
  • Legislative (Congress): makes laws
  • Executive (President): enforces laws
  • Judicial (Supreme Court and other courts): interprets laws

Checks and Balances

• Each branch has powers that limit the actions of the other two branches:
  • Legislative: can impeach and remove the President and federal judges
  • Executive: can veto laws passed by Congress (subject to override)
  • Judicial: can declare laws passed by Congress or actions by the President as unconstitutional

Federalism

• The Constitution divides power between the federal government and the states:
  • Federal government: responsible for matters that affect the entire country, such as foreign policy and national defense
  • States: responsible for matters that affect only their state or region, such as education and transportation

Individual Rights

• The Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to the Constitution) guarantees individual liberties, including:
  • Freedom of speech and religion
  • Right to a fair trial
  • Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures
  • Right to bear arms

Amending the Constitution

• The Constitution can be changed through the amendment process:
  • Proposal: two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate, or a national convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures
  • Ratification: approval by three-fourths of the states

Separation of Powers

• Power is divided among three branches of government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
• Legislative branch, made up of Congress, has the power to make laws.
• Executive branch, led by the President, is responsible for enforcing laws.
• Judicial branch, comprising the Supreme Court and other courts, interprets laws.

Checks and Balances

• Each branch has powers that limit the actions of the other two branches to prevent abuse of power.
• The Legislative branch can impeach and remove the President and federal judges.
• The Executive branch can veto laws passed by Congress, although Congress can override the veto.
• The Judicial branch can declare laws passed by Congress or actions by the President as unconstitutional.

Federalism

• Power is divided between the federal government and the states.
• The federal government is responsible for matters that affect the entire country, such as foreign policy and national defense.
• The states are responsible for matters that affect only their state or region, such as education and transportation.

Individual Rights

• The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, guarantees individual liberties.
• The Bill of Rights ensures freedom of speech and religion.
• Every individual has the right to a fair trial.
• Citizens are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures.
• The right to bear arms is guaranteed.

Amending the Constitution

• The Constitution can be changed through a two-step process: proposal and ratification.
• A proposed amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate, or a national convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures.
• Ratification requires approval by three-fourths of the states.

Understand how the US Constitution divides power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, and the system of checks and balances that limits their actions.