The Balance of Power in the Federal Government

The Balance of Power in the Federal Government

System of Checks and Balances

  • Purpose of Checks and Balances:
    • Designed to prevent the concentration and abuse of power among the branches of government.
  • Branches of Government Involved:
    • Executive Branch
    • Legislative Branch
    • Judicial Branch

Powers of the Executive Branch

  • Presidential Powers and Responsibilities:
    • Grant reprieves and pardons.
    • Appoint judges to fill vacancies in the court.
    • Approve presidential appointments.
    • Authority to bring impeachment hearings.
    • Power to override presidential vetoes.
    • Control appropriations.
    • Ratify treaties.
    • Declare war.
    • Interpret laws and presidential actions.
    • Authority to call special sessions of Congress.
    • Commander-in-Chief Role: The President serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
    • Veto Power:
    • The President has the power to veto bills passed by Congress.

Powers of the Legislative Branch

  • Legislative Authority:
    • Authority to institute new courts.
    • Power to impeach.
    • Approve judicial appointments made by the President.

Powers of the Judicial Branch

  • Judicial Responsibilities:
    • Interpret laws.
    • Determine constitutionality of laws.
    • Judges are appointed by the President and serve for life.

Key Concept #3: Balance of Power in the Federal Government (Sec. 9.6)

  1. Definition of Checks and Balances:
    • The term "checks and balances" refers to the system that ensures no single branch of government becomes too powerful as they each have the ability to limit the powers of the others.
  2. Framers' Rationale for Checks and Balances:
    • To prevent the concentration and abuse of power within one branch of government. This was a fundamental principle to avoid tyranny.
  3. Reasons for Amending the Constitution (Sec. 9.7):
    • The framers made it possible to change the Constitution to allow the government to adapt to new circumstances and evolving societal needs.
  4. Evidence Proving Difficulty of Amending the Constitution:
    • High Supermajority Thresholds: Amendments require approval by a significant majority of both houses of Congress and ratification by a number of states, making the process tough.
    • Low Success Rate: Historically, very few proposed amendments successfully navigate the process to become part of the Constitution.

Visual Representation

  • Arrows in visual diagrams often indicate the direction of a check one branch exerts over the other, illustrating the interaction and balance of powers among the branches.