Question

- What are checks and balances in United States government?

- Who “checks” whom?
- Why does this create balance and why are they necessary?

Answer 1

Checks and balances is how each branch of government checks the others from getting too powerful.

Here's how each branch checks the other:

How does the Legislative Branch check on the Executive branch?
1. overriding presidential vetoes.
2. confirming/approving treaties signed by the president
3. controls the budget

How does the Legislative Branch check on the Judicial Branch?
1. it can appoint judges
2. can grant pardons
3. carry out court orders

How does the Executive Branch check on the Legislative branch?
1. proposes legislation
2. appoint sessions for congress
3. Have the right to veto laws proposed by legislature

How does the Executive Branch check on the Judicial Branch?
1. it can appoint judges
2. can grant pardons
3. carry out court orders


How does the Judicial Branch check on the Executive Branch?
1. can rule that the President’s orders/orders unconstitutional
2. judicial review/issuing injunctions
3. can tries president for impeachment


How does the Judicial Branch check on the Legislative branch?
1. decide if a law is unconstitutional
2. veto the law and make it hard for the Legislative branch to pass the law.
3.Oversee all federal court cases

Checks and balances are necessary to keeps powers balanced between branches so no one is too powerful and corrupt.

Answer 2

- Checks and Balances is what keeps each branch of the government from obtaining to much power.

- The Executive Branch can veto bills from the Legislative Branch, but the Legislative Branch can override the veto. So, they all keep each other in balance.

- Checks and Balances keeps the other branches in check. Meaning no branch can obtain too much power or more power than the others. They all have an equal amount of power, keeping them and the government in balance.