THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM
INCLUDES THE NOTION KNOWN AS THE SEPARATION
OF POWERS. IN THIS SYSTEM,
SEVERAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT ARE CREATED
AND POWER IS SHARED BETWEEN THEM. AT
THE SAME TIME, THE POWERS OF ONE
BRANCH CAN BE CHALLENGED BY ANOTHER
BRANCH. THIS IS WHAT THE SYSTEM
OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IS ALL ABOUT.
THERE ARE THREE BRANCHES IN THE UNITED
STATES HAS ESTABLISHED BY THE
CONSTITUTION. FIRST,
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH MAKES THE LAW.
SECOND, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
EXECUTES THE LAW. LAST.
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH INTERPRETS THE
LAW. EACH BRANCH HAS AN EFFECT.
ON THE OTHER, THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
CHECKS ON THE EXECUTIVE IMPEACHMENT POWER
HOUSE TRIAL OF IMPEACHMENTS.
SENATE SELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT,
HOUSE AND VICE PRESIDENT.
SENATE IN THE CASE OF NO MAJORITY
OF ELECTORAL VOTES, MAY
OVERRIDE PRESIDENTIAL VETOES.
SENATE APPROVES DEPARTMENTAL
APPOINTMENTS. SENATE APPROVES
TREATIES AND AMBASSADORS APPROVAL
OF REPLACEMENT VICE PRESIDENT.
POWER TO DECLARE WAR POWER
TO ENACT TAXES AND ALLOCATE
FUNDS THE PRESIDENT MUST
FROM TIME TO TIME, DELIVER A STATE
OF THE UNION ADDRESS CHECKS ON
THE JUDICIARY. SENATE APPROVES FEDERAL
JUDGE'S IMPEACHMENT POWER
HOUSE TRIAL OF
IMPEACHMENTS. SENATE
POWER TO INITIATE CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS POWER TO SET
COURTS INFERIOR TO THE SUPREME COURT
POWER TO SET JURISDICTION OF
COURTS POWER TO ALTER
THE SIZE OF THE SUPREME COURT
CHECKS ON THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE IT
IS BICAMERAL. THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH HAS A DEGREE OF SELF CHECKING.
BILLS MUST BE PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES
OF CONGRESS. HOUSE MUST ORIGINATE REVENUE
BILLS. NEITHER HOUSE MAY ADJOURN FOR MORE
THAN THREE DAYS WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF
THE OTHER HOUSE. ALL JOURNALS ARE TO BE PUBLISHED.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH CHECKS ON THE
LEGISLATURE. THE VETO
POWER VICE PRESIDENT IS PRESIDENT
OF THE SENATE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
OF THE MILITARY RECESS
APPOINTMENTS. EMERGENCY
CALLING INTO SESSION OF ONE OR BOTH
HOUSES OF CONGRESS MAY FORCE
ADJOURNMENT WHEN BOTH HOUSES CANNOT AGREE
ON ADJOURNMENT. COMPENSATION
CANNOT BE DIMINISHED. CHECKS
ON THE JUDICIARY. POWER TO APPOINT
JUDGES. PARDON POWER
CHECKS ON THE EXECUTIVE VICE
PRESIDENT AND CABINET CAN VOTE THAT THE
PRESIDENT IS UNABLE TO DISCHARGE HIS
DUTIES. JUDICIAL BRANCH
CHECKS ON THE LEGISLATURE. JUDICIAL
REVIEW. SEATS ARE HELD ON GOOD
BEHAVIOUR. COMPENSATION
CANNOT BE DIMINISHED. CHECKS
ON THE EXECUTIVE JUDICIAL REVIEW.
CHIEF JUSTICE SITS AS PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE DURING PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT