What Are Examples of Checks & Balances?

America's founding fathers wanted to set up a government that wouldn't be able to become too powerful. They used the checks and balances system so that each branch could limit the power of the other branches.

Legislative Checks on the Executive

The legislative branch may remove the president from office by basically passing a majority vote in the House and a two-thirds vote in the Senate to decide whether or not they should impeach him. They can also override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in each chamber.

Legislative Checks on the Judicial

The legislative branch checks the judicial branch by approving all federal judges.

Executive Checks Legislative

The executive branch checks the legislative branch with the power to either sign or veto all bills passed by the legislative branch.

Executive Checks Judicial

The executive branch checks the judicial branch by having the power to appoint judges and having the power to pardon (drop all charges against someone).

Judicial Review

The judicial branch checks both the legislative and executive branches with its power of judicial review. Judicial review gives the Supreme Court the power to rule any action or law passed by the other two branches as unconstitutional.

References

• Checks and Balances
• Checks and Balances Diagram
• Impeachment

Resources

• Judicial Review