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Checks and Balances
1. The U.S. Constitution establishes three branches for the federal government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The three branches work together to help the country. Each branch has its own responsibilities and powers. No branch has more power than the other branches. They have balanced powers. Each branch has separate duties to check the powers of the other branches.
2. When a new state – the USA – was born, the Founders of the state thought that if there was no balance of power among different branches of government it would lead to tyranny. The problem was how to create a system of government with balanced powers. That’s why James Madison (1751 – 1836) favored the constitution that limited government by means of a) separation of powers; b) a system of checks and balances, where checks – limitation of the duties of each branch, and balances – separate powers to each branch.
3. Congress has the power to make laws, but the President may veto any act of Congress. Congress, in its turn, can pass a law over a veto by a two-thirds vote in each house. Congress can also refuse to provide funds requested by the President. The President can appoint important officials of his administration, but they must be approved by the Senate. The President also has the power to name all federal judges: they, too, must be approved by the Senate.
4. The system of checks and balances makes compromise and consensus necessary. This system protects against extremes. It means, for example, that new presidents cannot radically change governmental policies just as they wish.
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Why is the system of checks and balances necessary?
The system of checks and balances is necessary because it helps the Congress to make laws, pass them and override the President’s veto by a two-thirds vote in each house.
The system of checks and balances is necessary because it limits the President’s powers: his right to veto any act of Congress, to appoint high officials, to nominate federal judges, etc.
The system of checks and balances is necessary because it separates the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government which work together to help the country.
The system of checks and balances is necessary because it keeps any branch of government from using too much power or misusing it and makes each branch check on the others.