Chapter Three

A Tradition of Democracy The U.S. Constitution

~~~~~The Three Branches

Principles of the Constitution

Principles of the Constitution

Separation of Powers = the division of the federal government into three separate branches with power distributed among them

designed to prevent any person, or any part of the government, from taking too much power

Separation of PowersArticle 1

Legislative Branch … Lawmaking

National Legislature … CongressHouse of Representatives & Senate

1. first branch of government discussed in the Constitution2. described in greater detail than either of the other two branches (1/2 the document)3. the other branches depend on Congress for money to carry out their duties

The First Congress - 1789• helped set up the new government

• constructed a financial system

• organized new departments of the government

• wrote the Bill of Rights

• dealt with debts from the Revolutionary War

• chose a permanent location for the nation’s capital – Washington, D.C

Separation of Powers

Article 2Executive Branch … Law enforcing

(executing or carrying out)

National Leader … PresidentVice President & others

Separation of Powers

Article 3Judicial Branch … Law interpreting

& punishing lawbreakers

National Court … Supreme Courtfederal court system -

lower courts

Principles of the Constitution

Checks and Balances = A system in which the powers of government are balanced among different branches so that each branch can check, or limit, the power of the other branches.

To ensure that no branch of the federal government becomes too powerful

Principles of the Constitution

Judicial Review = The power of the U.S. Supreme Court to determine if a law passed by Congress or a presidential action is in accord with the Constitution.

• Constitution did not give the judicial branch this power• case of Marbury v. Madison – 1803• power established by Chief Justice John Marshall

LegislativeCongress

ExecutivePresident

JudicialSupreme Court

the executivePresident

the legislativeCongress

the legislativeCongress

• override vetos• impeachment• approve all federal

appointees• control spending

• veto laws • declare laws unconstitutional

the judicialSupreme Court

the judicialSupreme Court

the executivePresident

• impeachment• approve justices

and judges

• appoints justices and judges

• grant pardons and reprieves

• declare acts unconstitutional