AP GOVERNMENT Checks and Balances

Legislative Branch Checks the Executive Branch

Overrides a presidential veto with 2/3 in each 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 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 Review Checks the Executive Branch

Judicial Review

Bureaucratic Discretion

Bureaucratic Discretion is the power given to agencies by Congress to implement laws using their expert judgment

Bureaucratic Rule making

Bureaucratic Rule making 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

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 (Hearing requiring bureaucrats to testify)

Senate approves bureaucrat appointments

Judicial Branch Checks on the Bureaucracy

Judicial review