checks and balances

legislative branch checks the executive branch

• overrides a presidential veto with 2/3 vote in each house of congress

• oversight hearings

• can reduce/increase the budget proposed by the president

• house of representatives can impeach (accuse) the president

• senate is the jury for the impeachment trial and convicts or acquits the president

• senate ratifies treaties by 2/3 majority

• senate approves presidential appointments by simple majority vote

legislative branch checks the judicial branch

• can change the number and jurisdiction of federal courts

• sets lower federal court jurisdictions

• can change the number of justices on the supreme court

• senate approves federal judge appointees

• house of representatives can impeach (accuse) a federal judge

• senate is the jury for the impeachment trial and convicts or quits a federal judge

• can initiate a constitutional amendment

executive branch checks the legislative branch

• can veto a bill

• president can decide not to enforce a law

• executive orders

• executive agreements

• bully pulpit (appealing directly to the people)

• can convene congress

executive branch checks the judicial branch

• appoints federal judges

• can choose not to enforce a court decision

• pardon power

judicial branch checks the legislative branch

• judicial review

judicial branch checks the executive branch

judicial review

bureaucratic discretion

the power given to agencies by congress to implement laws using their expert judgement

bureaucratic rulemaking

the process by which agencies create the regulations necessary to carry out the laws that congress makes - these regulations have the same effects as laws

executive branch checks on bureaucracy

• appoint and remove agency heads (not all agency heads can be removed by pres)

• reorganize the bureaucracy (with congressional approval)

• change an agency's budget

• adjust policies that would alter the bureaucracy’s activities

• issue executive orders

legislative branch checks on the bureaucracy

• pass legislation that alters the bureaucracy’s activities

• abolish existing programs

• reduce funding to bureaucracy

• congressional oversight (hearings requiring bureaucrats to testify)

• senate approves bureaucrat appointments

judicial branch checks on the bureaucracy

judicial review