Question

checks & balances
date:
directions: various governmental powers are listed below. identify the branch doing the checking and the branch being checked. more than one answer is possible per section.

power	which branch has the power?	which branch is being checked? (could be more than one)
2. veto bills
3. ratify treaties
4. appoint federal judges
5. can declare executive actions unconstitutional
6. impeach and remove the president
7. confirm the appointments of presidential nominations
8. declare laws unconstitutional
9. can impeach and remove judges
10. override presidential vetoes
11. reject supreme court nominations
12. judges are appointed for life
13. controls appropriations of money.
14. can call special sessions of congress
15. can propose constitutional amendments to overturn supreme court decisions.

© l.battista 2017

Answer:

To solve this, we analyze each power based on the U.S. government's separation of powers (Legislative: Congress; Executive: President; Judicial: Courts):

1. Propose legislation

• Which branch has the power? Executive (President can propose), Legislative (Congress also proposes).
• Which branch is being checked? None (it’s a proactive power, not a check).

2. Veto bills

• Which branch has the power? Executive (President).
• Which branch is being checked? Legislative (Congress, as the President checks their laws).

3. Ratify treaties

• Which branch has the power? Legislative (Senate ratifies treaties).
• Which branch is being checked? Executive (President negotiates treaties, Senate checks).

4. Appoint Federal Judges

• Which branch has the power? Executive (President appoints).
• Which branch is being checked? Judicial (Courts, as the President selects judges).

5. Can declare executive actions unconstitutional

• Which branch has the power? Judicial (Courts).
• Which branch is being checked? Executive (President’s actions are checked).

6. Impeach and remove the President

• Which branch has the power? Legislative (House impeaches, Senate tries).
• Which branch is being checked? Executive (President).

7. Confirm the appointments of presidential nominations

• Which branch has the power? Legislative (Senate confirms).
• Which branch is being checked? Executive (President’s nominations are checked).

8. Declare laws unconstitutional

• Which branch has the power? Judicial (Courts).
• Which branch is being checked? Legislative (Congress’s laws are checked).

9. Can impeach and remove judges

• Which branch has the power? Legislative (House impeaches, Senate tries).
• Which branch is being checked? Judicial (Courts).

10. Override Presidential vetoes

• Which branch has the power? Legislative (Congress, 2/3 vote).
• Which branch is being checked? Executive (President’s veto is checked).

11. Reject Supreme Court nominations

• Which branch has the power? Legislative (Senate can reject).
• Which branch is being checked? Executive (President’s nominations) and Judicial (Court, as nominations are for judges).

12. Judges are appointed for life

• Which branch has the power? Judicial (term of office).
• Which branch is being checked? Executive (President can’t remove easily) and Legislative (Congress can’t remove easily, except impeachment).

13. Controls appropriations of money

• Which branch has the power? Legislative (Congress controls spending).
• Which branch is being checked? Executive (President’s budget is checked) and Judicial (Courts’ funding is controlled).

14. Can call special sessions of Congress

• Which branch has the power? Executive (President).
• Which branch is being checked? Legislative (Congress’s schedule is checked).

15. Can propose Constitutional amendments to overturn Supreme Court decisions

• Which branch has the power? Legislative (Congress proposes amendments) or Executive (state conventions, but Congress is primary).
• Which branch is being checked? Judicial (Supreme Court’s decisions are checked).

Final Table (Summarized):

Power	Which branch has the power?	Which branch is being checked?
2. Veto bills	Executive	Legislative
3. Ratify treaties	Legislative (Senate)	Executive
4. Appoint Federal Judges	Executive	Judicial
5. Declare executive actions unconstitutional	Judicial	Executive
6. Impeach and remove the President	Legislative	Executive
7. Confirm presidential nominations	Legislative (Senate)	Executive
8. Declare laws unconstitutional	Judicial	Legislative
9. Impeach and remove judges	Legislative	Judicial
10. Override vetoes	Legislative	Executive
11. Reject SC nominations	Legislative (Senate)	Executive, Judicial
12. Judges appointed for life	Judicial	Executive, Legislative
13. Control appropriations	Legislative	Executive, Judicial
14. Call special sessions	Executive	Legislative
15. Propose amendments to overturn SC	Legislative	Judicial

(Note: For “being checked,” focus on which branch’s authority is limited by the power.)