Principles of the constitution

Executive checks on legislature

-recommends legislation to congress

-confirms laws passed by congress

-can veto bills proposed by congress

Executive checks on judiciary

-power of pardon

-appoints justices to the supreme court

Legislative check on executive

-can override veto with super majority

-amending/rejecting or delaying presidents legislation proposals

-power of the purse

-refusing to approve presidential appointments (Senate only)

-refusing to ratify president’s treaty (Senate only)

-can impeach the president

When Donald Trump was impeached

2019 and 2021

Legislative checks on judiciary

-confirms appointed justices to the supreme court

-can propose constitutional amendments to overturn decisions

-can impeach judges

Judicial checks on legislature

-Can declare laws unconstitutional

Judicial checks on executive

-declare executives actions unconstitutional

Separation of Powers

Political power distributed among the legislature, executive and judiciary each acts independently and interdependently

Montesquieu’s influence on the US constitution

A Separation of Powers to avoid tyranny

John Locke’s influence on the US constitution

Limited federal government to leave the rights and freedoms of people as untouched as possible

Checks and Balances

Gives each branch of government the means to control the power of the other branches in order to maintain a democratic government

Federalism

Political power divided between a national government and state governments