LEARNING TARGETS :

• SEPARATION OF POWER• CHECKS & BALANCES

(NOTES--REVIEW QUESTIONS, P. 40)

We the People, Lesson #5

How can we organize government to prevent the

abuse of power?

1.SEPARATION OF POWER

(CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE)

• some power is given to each branch of gov.

• it IS NOT given to only one branch

2. OUR 3

BRANCHES

OF

GOV.

LEGISLATIVE(U.S.

Congress)

MAKE LAWS

EXECUTIVE(President)

ENFORCE/CARRY OUT

THE LAW

INTERPRET THE LAW:

MANAGE CONFLICTS ABOUT THE MEANING,

APPLICATION, & ENFORCEMENT OF

LAWS

JUDICIAL(U.S. Court

System)

3. CHECKS & BALANCES

(Constitutional Principle)

power btwn the branches is balanced-• no one branch of gov has

enough power to dominate the others

• some powers are shared with other branches

• each branch has specific powers & responsibilities

• Ex: 1. Congress makes laws

2. President has to accept or veto the new law 3. U.S. Supreme Ct. can declare the law unconstitutional

4.

Separation &

Sharing of

Power

Advantages:• Makes sure all decisions

(new laws, etc.) are in the best interest of the

country

means gov can’t reach decisions quickly

• new laws can be prevented if one of the branches has concerns

about it• Judicial branch manages

conflicts between Leg. & Exec. branches

4. cont.

Separation &

Sharing of

Power

Disadvantages:• sometimes can take a

long time to address issues that are very

important to the people

means gov can’t reach decisions quickly

• political fighting can lead to GRIDLOCK: a “jam up” in the law

making process; no one willing to compromise