The procedure of passing a Bill in the Congress. The System of Checks and Balances

Branch

Powers

Checks

1. Executive Branch (President)

• enforces laws;
• appoints officials;
• makes treaties;
• appoints the Supreme Court Judges;
• is the Commander- in-Chief of the Army and Navy.

The Congress:

• shelves Bills proposed by the President;
• overrules vetoes;
• refuses to confirm appointments;
• can refuse to ratify treaties;
• starts the process of impeachment.

The Supreme Court:

• can declare the executive acts unconstitutional

2. Legislative Branch (Congress)

• makes laws;
• taxation for the common defense and common welfare;
• credits and borrows money;
• regulates commerce and relations with foreign countries.

The President:

• can veto laws;
• can call for special session of the Congress;

The Supreme Court:

• reviews and interprets laws and treaties and sees whether they are constitutional or not

3. Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)

• interprets laws and treaties;
• Chief Judge presides over the impeachment of the President

The President:

• appoints Judges (for life) but cannot remove them from office;
• grants pardons;

The Congress:

• approves appointments of judges and, if necessary, impeaches them;
• decides on the jurisdiction of federal courts.