Checks and Balances
What are Checks and Balances?
Each part of government is separated into branches that each have a role in government. These different branches, known as the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches, are responsible for creating, writing, and reviewing the law. They each have power over the other branches so that no one branch controls the majority of the government, and the other two can intervene if a branch gains too much power.
When have America's separation of powers been tested?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt tried to pack the Supreme Court, in order to have more sway over the Judicial branch, but was unsuccessful due to Congress (the Legislative branch) denying his requests to appoint new judges. The Judicial branch overturned a law made by Congress for the first time in 1803 during the Marbury vs. Madison case. A more recent example of the Judicial branch overturning a law would be in the Hollingsworth vs. Perry case, or the case involving Proposition 8 in California. The Supreme court ruled Same-sex marriage as legal, and overruled the state of California's decision.
Each part of government is separated into branches that each have a role in government. These different branches, known as the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches, are responsible for creating, writing, and reviewing the law. They each have power over the other branches so that no one branch controls the majority of the government, and the other two can intervene if a branch gains too much power.
When have America's separation of powers been tested?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt tried to pack the Supreme Court, in order to have more sway over the Judicial branch, but was unsuccessful due to Congress (the Legislative branch) denying his requests to appoint new judges. The Judicial branch overturned a law made by Congress for the first time in 1803 during the Marbury vs. Madison case. A more recent example of the Judicial branch overturning a law would be in the Hollingsworth vs. Perry case, or the case involving Proposition 8 in California. The Supreme court ruled Same-sex marriage as legal, and overruled the state of California's decision.