checks And Balances
With checks and balances, each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. Each branch “checks” the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them. First, the legislative branch introduces and votes on a bill. The bill then goes to the executive branch, where the President decides whether he thinks the bill is good for the country. If so, he signs the bill, and it becomes a law. If the President does not believe the bill is good for the country, he does not sign it, which is called a veto. But the legislative branch gets another chance. With enough votes, the legislative branch can override the executive branch's veto, and the bill becomes a law. Once a law is in place, the people of the country can test it through the court system, which is under the control of the judicial branch. If someone believes a law is unfair, a lawsuit can be filed. Lawyers then make arguments for and against the case, and a judge decides which side has presented the most convincing arguments. The side that loses can choose to appeal to a higher court, and may eventually reach the highest court of all, the Supreme Court. If the legislative branch does not agree with the way in which the judicial branch has interpreted the law, they can introduce a new piece of legislation, and the process starts all over again.
Marbury V. Madison
- This case establishes the parameters of judicial review and formed the modern understanding of the system of checks and balances. Ultimately, the court found that part of the Judiciary Act of 1789, the law upon which this case was based, was unconstitutional because it required the court to reach beyond the powers allocated to it in Article III of the Constitution. Marbury v. Madison is the first time a court declared an American law unconstitutional.
Dred Scott V. Sanford
- The Supreme Court held that people in the U.S of African descent could not become American citizens and were not protected by the United States Constitution. This case has since been overturned, but the decision had a long-lasting imprint on all Americans.
Below is a gallery of political cartoons for Checks and Balances.
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