AP Government 1.6 - Principles of American Government

Congressional Powers

- Make laws
- Power of the purse
- Declare war

Executive Powers

- Enforce laws
- Make treaties
- Commander-in-chief
- Grant pardons

Judicial Powers

- Interpret laws
- Review decisions of state and lower federal courts

Congressional Checks on the President

- Override presidential veto (2/3 both houses)
- Impeach the president
- Refuse to pass a bill the president wants
- Confirm presidential nominees (Senate only)
- Ratify a treaty (Senate only)

Congressional Checks on the Judiciary

- Alter the number of judges on the Court
- Change the jurisdiction of lower courts and the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
- Propose a Constitutional amendment to override Court's decision
- Pass legislation to limit the impact of a Court ruling
- Confirm judicial nominees (Senate only)
- Impeach federal judges (Senate only)

Presidential Checks on Congress

- Veto legislation

Presidential Checks on the Judiciary

- Nominate federal judges
- Ignore a Supreme Court ruling

Judicial Checks on Congress

- Declare federal laws unconstitutional

Judicial Checks on the President

- Declare executive orders/presidential actions unconstitutional

Impeachment

Congress can impeach the president for high crimes and misdemeanors; the House of Representatives can impeach a president with a simple majority vote.

The Senate will hold the impeachment trial, requiring a 2/3 vote to remove the president or federal judge.