Title: How Checks and Balances Work in the US Government
Headings: SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips
SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips
How Checks and Balances Work in the US Government
What Are Checks and Balances? Definition and History
Where the Idea of Checks and Balances Comes From
A Constitutional Democracy: The Vehicle for a System of Checks and Balances
The 3 Branches of the United States Federal Government
The Legislative Branch
The Executive Branch, Defined
The Judicial Branch, Defined
The Supreme Court
The Appellate Courts
The District Courts
The Judicial Branch’s Responsibilities
How Does the Checks and Balances System Work in the United States?
Checks and Balances of the 3 Branches of Government
5 Pros and Cons of a Checks and Balances System
Pro: They Keep a Single Group From Grabbing too Much Power
Pro: They Get the Government to Self-Regulate
Pro: They Provide Constitutional Support for Disagreements Between the Branches
Con: They Can Complicate Policymaking
Con: The System Doesn’t Always Work as Originally Intended
What Are Checks and Balances Like in Action?
The Line Item Veto Act of 1996: Background
The Judicial Branch Acts
The Legislative Branch Acts
But because the Act didn’t win full approval by Congress, the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006 didn’t become law.
Summary of the 4 Checks and Balances Involved in This Example
What's Next?
Ashley Robinson
About the Author
Ask a Question Below

Content: The U.S. White House
The Executive Branch, Defined
The executive branch of the federal government is established by Article Two of the Constitution and is made up of the president, the vice president, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. When we hear the word “executive,” a powerful individual in a well-tailored suit might pop into our minds. Just because the President of the United States is the head of the executive branch doesn’t mean they’re a lone wolf, though. All of the other members of the executive branch support and advise the president, and actually do a lot of the work in the executive branch. The Cabinet is comprised of the vice president and the heads of the fifteen executive departments. These department heads have titles like “secretary,” “director,” or “administrator,” and they’re in charge of everything from the Department of Homeland Security, to the Department of Transportation, to the Department of Education. For example, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury are both heads of their respective departments and members of the president’s Cabinet. The Secretary of State advises the president on foreign affairs, and the Secretary of the Treasury advises the president on economic affairs. The Cabinet may also be asked to advise the president on responsibilities or decisions that pertain to executive checks on the other two branches, or the executive branch’s response to checks initiated by the other two br