Checks and Balances

Question 1

Executive

Answer 1

Over Legislative:

• Can veto acts of Congress
• Can call Congress into a special session
• Carries out, and thereby interprets, laws passed by Congress
• Vice President casts tie-breaking vote in the Senate

Over Judicial:

• Nominates Supreme Court justices
• Nominates federal judges
• Can pardon those convicted in federal court
• Can refuse to enforce Court Decisions

Question 2

Legislative

Answer 2

Over Executive:

• Can override presidential veto
• Can impeach and remove president
• Can reject president’s appointments and refuse to ratify treaties
• Can conduct investigations into president’s actions
• Can refuse to pass laws or to provide funding that president requests

Over Judicial:

• Can change size of federal court system and the number of Supreme Court justices
• Can propose constitutional amendments
• Can reject Supreme Court nominees
• Can impeach and remove federal judges

Question 3

Judicial

Answer 3

Judicial Review!

Over Executive

• Can declare executive actions unconstitutional
• Power to issue warrants
• Chief justice presides over impeachment of president

Over Legislative

• Can declare laws unconstitutional
• Chief justice presides over Senate during hearing to impeach the president