check and balances

Leg checks exec

• Overrides a presidential veto with 2/3 vote in each house of Congress

• Oversight hearings

• Can reduce/inc budget proposed by Pres

• HoR can impeach (accuse) Pres

• Senate is jury for impeachment trial and convicts/acquits the Pres

• Senate ratifies treaties by 2/3 Maj

• Senate approves Pres appointments by simple majority

Leg checks judicial

• Can change number/jurisdiction of fed courts

• Sets lower fed court jurisdiction

• Can change number of justices on sp ct

• Senate approves fed judge appointees

• HoR can impeach (accuse) fed judge

• Senate is jury for impeachment trial and convicts/aquits a fed judge

• Can initiate a constitutional amendment

Exec checks leg

Can veto a bill

Pres can decide not to enforce a law

Executive orders

Executive agreements

Bully pulpit (appealing directly to the people)

Can convene congress

Exec checks judicial

Appoints fed judges

Can choose not to enforce a court decision

Pardon power

Judicial checks leg

Judicial review

Judicial checks exec

Judicial review

Bureaucratic discretion

The power given to agencies by congress to implement laws using expert judgement

Bureaucratic rule making

The process which agencies create the regulations necessary to carry out laws Congress makes (regs have same effect as laws)

Exec checks bureaucracy

Appoints and remove most agency heads

Reorganize bureaucracy (w/congressional approval)

Change an agency’s budget

Adjust policier that would alter the bureaucracy’s activités

Issue exec orders

Leg checks bureaucracy

Pass legislation altering bureaucracy’s activities

Abolish existing programs

Reduce funding to bureaucracy

Congressional oversight (hearings requiring bureaucrats to testify)

Senate approves bureaucrat appointments

Judicial checks bureaucracy

Judicial review