Checks+and+Balances


 * Checks and Balances of the US Government**

When our [|Founding Fathers] came up with suggestions for government, they wanted to make sure that no one person or group had too much power in government like it had been in England. As a result, they came up with a system of checks and balances.

If Congress makes a law that isn't a very good law, the president can veto, or reject, the law. Congress then must again try to pass it by getting two-thirds of Congress members to vote for it. This helps prevent the president from becoming to powerful.

The President has the power to make treaties with other countries, but first he has to get the approval by two-thirds of [|the Senate]. The President can choose people to help him make laws. The President was also made the Commander-in-Chief of our Army and Navy, but if he wants to make any big change, he has to get the money from the Congress. This also prevents the President from getting to powerful.

The Supreme Court can check the President by declaring his acts unconstitutional and can check Congress by declaring laws unconstitutional. But the President has to choose the Supreme Court Justices, judges, and other parts of the Judicial branch. The Congress approves the appointees. The congress can also impeach the appointees.

With all these checks and balances, it helps our government stay under control, and our country in peace.