Separation of Powers

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Separation of Powers
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• (Theme) With the separation of powers, the
  Founding Fathers wanted political authority to be
  shared by three branches of government with
  intent to create conflict and prevent tyranny,
  even by a popular majority.

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• Congress can check the president in these ways
• By refusing to pass a bill he wants
• By passing a law over the presidents veto
  with a two-thirds vote of both houses

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• By using the impeachment powers to remove the
  president from office
• By refusing to approve a presidential
  appointment (Senate only)
• By refusing to ratify a treaty the president
  has signed (Senate only)

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• Congress can check the federal courts in these
  ways
• By changing the number and the jurisdiction
  of the lower courts
• By using the impeachment powers to remove a
  judge from office
• By refusing to approve a person nominated to
  be a judge (Senate only)
• By proposing constitutional amendments (must
  be ratified by the states)

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• President can check Congress by vetoing a bill it
  has passed
• President can check federal courts by nominating
  judges

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• Courts can check Congress by declaring a law
  unconstitutional
• Courts can check the president by declaring
  actions by him or his subordinates to be
  unconstitutional or not authorized.

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• In addition to these checks provided in the
  Constitution, each branch has informal ways of
  checking the others

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• President can withhold info with executive
  privilege
• Congress can obtain information by mounting an
  investigation
• Both can try to use the media and public
  opinion to influence the other