Title: How does the system of checks and balances limit the power of the President (Please Help)? | Yahoo Answers
Headings: How does the system of checks and balances limit the power of the President (Please Help)?
How does the system of checks and balances limit the power of the President (Please Help)?
7 Answers
Anonymous

Content: This was intended to "balance" the power between all three branches so that no single branch would become so powerful that it would become the de facto ruling power of the country. How successful this has been and how evenly the powers are, in reality, balanced is the subject of much debate but that is not for this discussion. The Legislative Branch - generally, has the power to pass legislation, has the "power of the purse", and is supposed to have the final war-making authority (where most of the debates come from). First of all, the legislative branch proposes (the President may also use his "Bully Pulpit" to influence legislation but he has no power to introduce a bill into Congress) legislation, debates and changes legislation, and then votes on the passage of legislation. This check on the president's power is intended to prevent one person (the president) from having the sole law-making authority (debates arise with the use of executive orders and presidential signing statements) which was what the founders where so fearful of from their insights into human history and practical experience with the English monarchy. The president does, however, have the right to veto any legislation that is passed by Congress but the Congress has mechanisms of which to override any such veto (albeit it requires higher percentages of votes). Judicial Branch - the Supreme Court's (and other federal judges) job is to interpret the law and actions taken by the Legislative and Executive Branches. When laws are passed, then challenged (if no one challenges the law the court cannot sua sponte rule on an issue), they go to the courts to decide their merits. It's not always about whether a law is Constitutional or not (in fact, this is rarer than other forms of challenges). For example, the controversial health care bill passed by Congress and signed by President Obama has been challenged in court.