Checks and Balances of The Federal Government

There are three separate branches in the federal government. This is mandated by the Constitution of the United States. The three separate
branches are legislative, the executive and the judicial. In theory, each branch is equal and they check the powers of each other. That is known as checks and balances. This keeps check so that no one branch becomes too powerful.

Congress is the branch that makes and passes laws. It is bicameral, which means that it is made up of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Senate is the upper house of
Congress and has 100 members. Each state i allocated two senators. The House of Representatives has 435 members, based on the population of each state. The senators and representatives are voted into office by the people of their state. The Supreme Court can rule laws unconstitutional. Both houses of Congress must vote to pass laws. This checks powers within the Senate and House.

The executive branch consists of the president, vice president and other executive officials. The president appoints secretaries to head the various departments and the Senate advises and consents to them. The president and vice president are elected by the electoral college.

The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and lower courts. They interpret laws passed and may find a law unconstitutional. Judges are nominated by the president and consented to by the Senate. When the president signs a bill passed by Congress, it immediately becomes law. If the president casts a veto, then the bill must go back to Congress.