M1 Chart
System of Checks and Balances
in the U.S. Government
responsibilities
 enforces laws
 commands a rmed forces
 appoints a mbassadors and other offi cials
 conducts foreign poli cy
 proposes laws
 negotia tes trea ties
 ma y pass laws over president’s veto by
two-thi rd vote
 ma y i mpea ch and remove president
 ma y reject trea ties and a ppointments
 ma y wi thhold funding for presidential
ini tiati ves
Executive Branch
The President
1. The President
2. Cabinet depa rtments
3. Independent gov. a gencies
 ma y veto congressional legislation
 ma y decla re presidential a cts uncons ti tutional
4 yea rs
Eligible voters
1789: ~ 10% of whi te male adults
1868: all whi te male ci ti zens
1870: Afri can Ameri cans gain right to vote
1920: women gain ri ght to vote
1924: Na ti ve Ameri cans gain right to vote
1971: voting ri ght for all Ameri can ci ti zens
of 18 yea rs and older
Electoral Collage (535)
 appoints judges
 ma y pa rdon those convi cted in court
Judicial Branch
Legislative Branch
The Congress
The Courts
2 yea rs
6 yea rs : one thi rd
elected every 2 yea rs
1. House of Representa ti ves (435)
2. Senate (100)
1. Supreme Court
2. Courts of Appeal
3. Dis tri ct Courts
responsibilities
 interpret a nd appl y laws
segu von C.Pallas ke steht unter einer
Creative Commons Namensnennung-Weitergabe
unter gleichen Bedingungen 3.0 Unported Lizenz
responsibilities
 wri tes and ena cts laws
 confi rms presidential appointments
 ra tifies treaties
 grants money
 decla res wa r
 review lower courts decisions
 ma y decla re laws uncons ti tutional
 ma y i mpea ch and remove judges
 ma y propose cons ti tutional a mendments to overrule judi cial
decisions