Checks and Balances

[Keith Broaders]

There's no single "most powerful" branch in the U.S. Federal Government; the system of checks and balances is supposed to ensure that power is shared, but historically and constitutionally, the 

Legislative Branch (Congress)  All legislative power was granted to the legislative branch, but the President has the power to to veto Congressional legislation. Congress has the ultimate power to over-ride Presidential vetos with the approval of two thirds of the members of both the House and Senate.

The Supreme Court has assumed the power declare legislative acts  unconstitutional, but Congress and the President  does not have the power to reject the opinions of the Supreme Court. Because of the lack of a system of checks and balances the five Supreme Court Jusices has more power than 100 senators and 435 members of the House of Rpresentatives. 

(Executive) executes laws, and the Judiciary interprets laws based on the original intent of the men who wrote the Constitution.

Here's a breakdown of why it's debated:

• Legislative (Congress): Can pass laws, control spending (power of the purse), declare war, approve presidential appointments (Senate), and impeach officials.
• Executive (President): Implements laws, commands military, conducts foreign policy, issues executive orders, and appoints officials.
• Judicial (Courts): Interprets laws, judicial review (can declare laws unconstitutional), ensures rights.