Checks and Balances

00:03:47
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSconP2Hpp0

Summary

TLDRThis text elaborates on the system of checks and balances established by the framers of the U.S. Constitution. It details the separation of powers among the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch makes laws, imposes taxes, and approves treaties. The executive branch, led by the President, executes laws and sets foreign policy. The judicial branch interprets laws and adjudicates legal matters. The checks and balances system ensures no single branch becomes too powerful, featuring mechanisms such as Congress's ability to override presidential vetoes, the President's ability to pardon, and the judiciary's authority to rule laws unconstitutional.

Takeaways

  • 🔍 The U.S. government has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
  • ⚖️ These branches have unique powers to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
  • 📝 The legislative branch (Congress) makes laws and has powers like taxing and declaring war.
  • 🇺🇸 The executive branch, led by the President, implements and enforces laws.
  • ⚖️ The judicial branch, including the Supreme Court, interprets laws and judges legal disputes.
  • 🔐 The system of checks and balances allows each branch to limit the powers of the others.
  • ✍️ Congress can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds majority vote.
  • 🏛️ The Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional, acting as the final legal authority.
  • 🛡️ The President can issue pardons for imprisoned individuals.
  • 🕊️ Supreme Court justices serve for life but can be impeached by Congress.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:03:47

    The framers of the U.S. Constitution sought to avoid a concentration of power, similar to what they experienced under British rule, by establishing a government with three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch has designated powers: Congress (legislative) makes laws, taxes, spends, and approves treaties; the President (executive) enforces laws and proposes legislation; and the Supreme Court (judicial) interprets laws and decides on constitutional matters. They instituted a system of checks and balances to ensure no branch becomes too dominant. For instance, while the President can propose legislation, Congress must approve it, and the Supreme Court has the authority to nullify unconstitutional laws. Additionally, the President can order military action, but only Congress can declare war, and the Senate must confirm judicial appointments made by the President. This framework ensures mutual regulation, preventing any branch from overpowering the others.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What are the three branches of government?

    The three branches are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

  • What powers does the legislative branch have?

    The legislative branch can make laws, tax and spend, approve treaties, and declare war.

  • Who heads the executive branch?

    The President heads the executive branch.

  • What is the role of the judicial branch?

    The judicial branch interprets laws and decides on cases involving state rights.

  • How can Congress check the President's veto?

    Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

  • What power does the Supreme Court have regarding laws?

    The Supreme Court can declare laws as constitutional or unconstitutional.

  • What can the President do if a citizen is imprisoned?

    The President can pardon the individual.

  • Can the judicial branch overturn executive orders?

    Yes, the judicial branch can find executive orders unconstitutional and overturn them.

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  • 00:00:05
    checks and balances after breaking from
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    a British government that lorded over
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    the colonists the framers of the
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    Constitution wanted to make sure that
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    their government did not get too
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    powerful in order to do this they
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    established three separate branches of
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    government that would each have its own
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    specific powers three branches of
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    government are the legislative the
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    executive and the judicial the
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    legislative branch or Congress is
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    comprised of the House of
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    Representatives and the Senate this
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    branch has the power to make laws the
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    power to tax and spend the power to
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    approve treaties and the power to
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    declare war the executive branch
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    consists of the president the executive
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    and cabinet departments and the
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    independent governing agencies like the
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    IRS the president is the head of the
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    executive branch he has the power to
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    carry out the laws passed by Congress
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    recommend new legislation set foreign
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    policies and nominate Supreme Court
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    justices the judicial branch is
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    comprised of the Supreme Court the Court
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    of Appeals and the district court the
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    Supreme Court is the highest court in
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    the judicial branch this branch has the
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    power to interpret all laws and decide
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    cases involving state rights in order to
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    ensure that no one branch becomes more
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    powerful than the other a system of
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    checks and balances was incorporated
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    into the Constitution in other words
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    each branch of government would be able
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    to check the powers of the other take
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    for example the process of passing a law
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    a bill must be passed through both
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    houses of Congress before it goes to the
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    president for approval
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    the president can either sign the bill
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    or veto the bill even if the bill is
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    vetoed Congress may overturn the veto
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    with a two-thirds majority vote the
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    Supreme Court has the final say because
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    it can decide if a law is constitutional
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    or unconstitutional in the framework of
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    the Constitution there are many powers
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    issued to each branch of government in
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    order to keep these powers from growing
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    too strong and allowing one branch to
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    overpower the others there are many
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    other ways that one branch can check the
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    power of another consider the following
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    examples the president has the power to
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    order troops to fight but only Congress
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    can formally declare war
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    so without Congress's support the
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    president cannot maintain a war even
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    though the president is the
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    commander-in-chief of the military the
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    president makes judicial appointments
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    but these must be confirmed by the
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    Senate before they can be made judges
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    the president can issue an executive
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    order but the judicial branch can find
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    it unconstitutional and overturn the
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    order Supreme Court justices are
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    appointed for life but they can be
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    impeached by Congress or removed from
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    office the court system can imprison a
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    citizen however the president can pardon
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    the individual and set the individual
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    free this system of checks and balances
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    gives each branch of government of voice
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    in the country's affairs if one branch
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    ever tries to overstep its boundaries
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    there is always a check in place for one
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    of the other two branches to pull one
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    branch back into a balance of power
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    you
Tags
  • Checks and Balances
  • U.S. Constitution
  • Legislative Branch
  • Executive Branch
  • Judicial Branch
  • Separation of Powers
  • Democracy
  • Government System
  • Presidential Veto
  • Supreme Court