1.3 - Separation of Powers - Learn

Separation of powers

splitting up the national government into three branches: executive, legislative & judicial (to prevent any one person or group from having all of the power)

Checks and Balances

the ability of each branch to check the other two branches (to prevent abuse of power) so that they all stay equal and limited

limited government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution (e.g., federalism and the Bill of Rights)

Legislative Branch

the branch that writes laws

Judicial Branch

the branch that interprets the laws

Executive Branch

the branch that enforces the laws

power of the purse

Congress determines what to spend money on and how much to spend

Power to tax

Congress has the power to tax

Commander in Chief

The president is in command of our armed forces

Power to declare war

Congress has the authority to officially declare war

Congress

The legislative branch is called

President

The head of the executive branch is the

Supreme Court

The head of the judicial branch is called the

Executive power

The power the president has to carry out and enforce laws

Judicial Review

the Supreme court has power to decide cases involving the US Constitution, federal laws and US treaties.

Capitol Building

The building where the United States Congress meets.

White House

The official residence and workplace of the President of the United States