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5.3 Congressional Powers – Essay Prep
How does the Legislative branch check the power of the other two branches, keeping them from
becoming a dictatorship?
The legislative branch checks the power of the
executive branch…
Power
The House of
Representatives can
impeach the president,
and the Senate can
remove the president.
(To impeach is to charge
with wrongdoing; indict.)
Being able to override
a presidential veto.
(The President signs bills
into law, or can veto
(reject) them. Congress
can pass the bill into law)
The Senate can refuse
to ratify treaties that the
President has signed
with foreign countries
(treaties are written
agreements between
nations)
The Senate can refuse
to confirm presidential
appointments
(The president appoints
(picks) his advisors, but
the Senate can reject these
people).
Financing the
government: spending
money can only happen
if the Congress passes
an appropriations bill
to spend money
Explain how this power limit the powers of the Executive branch:
The legislative branch checks the power of the
judicial branch…
Power
Explain how this power limit the powers of the Judicial branch:
The House of
Representatives can
impeach and the
Senate can remove
federal judges from
office
(To impeach is to charge
with wrongdoing; indict.)
Congress controls the
size of the judicial
branch. A law must be
passed to add new
lower courts, and a law
can reduce the size of
the federal courts.
The Senate must
confirm the president’s
judicial appointments
before the judges
officially get the job.
(The president appoints
(picks) federal judges, but
the Senate can reject
them)
Congress has the power to…
Power
Declare war
Congress controls our
population growth by
regulating immigration
and naturalization.
Congress regulates
trade with foreign
countries
Congress regulates
trade between the states
Why should Congress have this power, not the president or Supreme Court?