AP GOV 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 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% 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 jurisdiction 

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 

Bureaucratic discretion is the power given to agencies by Congress to implement laws 

using their expert judgement. 

Bureaucratic Rulemaking 

Bureaucratic rulemaking is the process by which agencies create the regulations necessary to carry out the laws that Congress makes. These regulations have the same effect as laws.

Executive Branch Checks on the 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