Checks+and+Balances+in+Government

The delegates, from each of the states, that met together in 1787at the Constitutional Convention to make a new constitution knew that they needed a more powerful government, but they didn't want anything to get out of hand. They feared giving anyone too much power because they thought it would turn into a monarchy, bu they also realized that they needed a strong government so that the country could be supported in peace as well as in war.They made three branches of government, but none of them could be stronger than the other. They created a system of checks and balances so no one part of the government could become stronger than the other. These are the parts of the government and which checks they have over eachother. Click here to visit the Constitutional Convention page.

[|Click here for a graph of the Checks and Balances in Government]

© MG & EL 2007


 * EXECUTIVE CHECKS**

__Executive Checks on the Legislative Branch:__ 1. Veto Lawa 2. Messages to the Congress 3. Head of the party 4. Appointments to other offices 5. Speaker of the people

__Executive Checks on the Judicial Branch:__ 1. Appointment of judges


 * LEGISLATIVE CHECKS**

__Legislative Checks on the Executive Branch:__ 1. Pass laws over veto with 2/3 vote in each House of Congress 2. Approval of appointments 3. Approval of treaties 4. Impeachment

__Legislative Checks on the Judicial Branch:__ 1. Approval of judges


 * JUDICIAL CHECKS**

__Judicial Checks on the Executive Branch:__ 1. Question the constitutionality of President's Acts

__Judicial Checks on the Legislative Branch:__ 1. Question the constitutionality of laws