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Checks & Balances Chart
Survey of United States Constitution and Government (POLS 1020)
Western Governors University
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C181- Constitutional Powers, Checks & Balances in the U. Federal Government
The Three Branches of the Federal Government:
The Legislative Branch is The U. Senate and the House of Representatives – Two ‘Chambers’ in Congress.
The Executive Branch is The President of the U. and all Federal Government Bureaucracies.
The Judicial Branch is The Supreme Court and the lower Federal District and Appellate Courts.
Each Branch has its own MAIN powers plus more powers over the other two Branches. The powers over the other Branches are
the ‘checks and balances’ each Branch has. ‘Checks and balances’ give EACH Branch some POWER OVER the other Branches.
READ DOWN the Columns to find the Powers each Branch has.
The Legislative Branch
The 2 Chambers/Houses of Congress
have these powers:
The Executive Branch
The President has these powers:
The Judicial Branch
The Supreme Court has
these powers:
-MAIN POWERS-
-Power to make laws (legislate) based on
‘Enumerated’ and ‘Implied’ Powers of Article
I, Sec. 8; based on majority rule in B
B
O
O
T
T
H
H
Chambers (or ‘Houses.’)
-Power to propose Constitutional
Amendments with 2/
rd’s
vote in BBOOTTHH
Chambers.
-House of Representatives can only propose
bills for nneeww ttaaxxeess//rreevveennuuee..
-Also IF the Electoral College cannot reach
majority vote, then House of Representatives
will take a final vote to elect the president.
-Checks & Balances over Legislative-
-President can Recommend Legislation to
Congress (to both Chambers.)
-Also gives ‘State of the Union’ speech
every year to Congress.
-President has power to sign Legislation
passed by both Houses into LAW.
-President can VETO Legislation (reject it).
-Only President can ask the House of
Representatives to declare War.
-President can write Executive Orders &
Foreign Treaties.
-President can call Congress into session or
adjourn them.
-Checks & Balances over Legislative-
-According to JUDICIAL
REVIEW, Supreme Court can
review/interpret all
Legislative acts (laws) in any
lawsuit and declare the law
unconstitutional.
-The Supreme Court is the FINAL
AUTHORITY on the U.
Constitution.
-Checks & Balances over Executive-
-Both Chambers must vote to ddeeccllaarree wwaarr
only after the President asks.
-Senate must C
C
o
o n
n f
f i
i r
r m
m all presidential
appointments, including CCaabbiinneett OOffffiicceerrss
((SSeeccrreettaarriieess)),, Supreme Court Nominees,
Ambassadors, Federal J
J
u
u d
d g
g e
e s
s.
-Senate confirms or rejects foreign t
t r
r e
e a
a t
t i
i e
e s
s
with 2/
rd’s
vote.
-Both Chambers together c
c a
a n
n O
O
v
v e
e r
r r
r i
i d
d e
e
P
P
r
r e
e s
s i
i d
d e
e n
n t
t ’
’
s
s v
v e
e t
t o
o with 2/
rd’s
majority vote in
both Chambers.
-Both Chambers hold OOVVEERRSSIIGGHHTT Hearings to
investigate President/ Bureaucracies.
-MAIN POWERS-
-President and bureaucracy enforce,
administer, & execute all Federal
Government laws.
-President manages all Federal
Government bureaucracies.
-President & Bureaucracies together have
Rule Making/Regulatory Power.
-President is Commander in Chief over the
Military.
-President prepares and oversees Federal
Budget.
-President appoints highest level of
Cabinet Officers, Ambassadors, & political
appointees in Federal Government.
(Senate must confirm or President picks
another person.)
-Checks & Balances over Executive-
-According to Judicial
Review, Supreme Court
can review all Executive
acts in any lawsuit and
declare actions
unconstitutional.
-Can Issue Injunctions
(Court orders)
-Checks & Balances over Judicial-
-B oth Chambers together can:
*Create/eliminate Federal Courts.
*Can impeach government officials:
- House of Representatives starts by
investigating and indicting (formal charge).
- Then the Senate checks the House by
holding a trial & voting to remove an official
with a 2/
rd’s
majority vote.
-Checks & Balances over Judicial-
-Grant Pardons, Reprieves or Amnesty.
-President nominates all Federal
Judges, including Supreme Court
nominees. (Senate must confirm or
President picks another person.)
-MAIN POWERS-
-Supreme Court interprets or
adjudicates Federal and State
Laws in court cases (lawsuits) by
using its ‘Original Jurisdiction:’
Example: Cases dealing with
ambassadors.
-Also uses ‘Appellate
Jurisdiction;’ such as State &
Local Government cases dealing
with ‘federal questions.’
Checks & Balances Chart
Course: Survey of United States Constitution and Government (POLS 1020)
University: Western Governors University
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