Checks and Balances
“When the legislative and executive powers are united in
the same person, or in the same body of [judges], there can
be no liberty; because [the government may] enact
tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner.”
De Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws (1748)
What did the Baron de Montesquieu say about
government?
If one person or group held legislative, executive and
judicial power, then government would be unjust and take
away people’s liberty.
What does the verb “to check” mean?
To stop or restrain
What does the term “checks and balances” mean?
The distribution of powers among the three branches of
government to prevent one branch from becoming too
powerful.
1 Ratifies a treaty
2 Vetoes a law
3 Creates courts
4 Grants pardons
5 Appoints federal judges
6 Overrides a veto
7 Impeaches and removes a
judge
8 Rejects an appointment to the
courts
9 Suggests a laws
10 Reject a presidential
appointment
11 Declares a law
unconstitutional
12 Impeaches and removes a
president
Which branch of government
is doing the checking?
Which branch is being
checked?
Legislative
Executive
Legislative
Executive
Executive
Legislative
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Judicial
Legislative
Legislative
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Legislative
Judicial
Executive
Judicial
Executive/Judicial
Legislative
Executive
Legislative/Executive
Executive
In countries such as Israel and Britain, the Prime Minister (political
leader who has powers similar to our President) is chosen by the
Parliament (similar to the US Congress).
Why do you think that the Founding Fathers did not choose to have
the President selected by Congress?
If the president was chosen by congress, the legislative branch would
have great power over the president and it would be difficult for the
president to check the powers of congress.