The Three Branches of GovernmentChap. 3, Sec. 2

• Legislative Branch

• Who: Congress House & Senate• Power: Makes laws• Executive Branch

• Who: President directs the federal agencies• Power: Enforces (carries out) the laws• Judicial Branch

• Who: Supreme Court & lower courts• Power: Interprets the Constitution and

federal laws when there are disputes over meaning

White House

The Capitol Building

Supreme Court

Checks & Balances:the 3 branches may restrain each other from becoming too powerful

The President (Executive) may:

Check Congress by:

1. Vetoing a bill passed by Congress

2. Calling special sessions of Congress

Check the Supreme Court by:

appointing federal judges

Legislative Action

The Congress (Legislative) may:

Check the President by: 1) Overriding a veto with a 2/3 vote of the House &

Senate

2) Impeaching the President for crimes

Check the Supreme Court by:

1) Impeaching judges for crimes

2) Senate must approve the President’s appointments of judges

Judicial Action

The Supreme Court (Judiciary) may:

Check Congress by: 1) Ruling a law of Congress to be

unconstitutional

2) Judges are appointed for life.

Check the President Court by:

1) Ruling an action of the President to be unconstitutional

2) Judges are appointed for life.