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Table

from

Encarta

Checks and Balances

These tables show the powers of the three branches of the United States government and how each branch checks or constrains the power of the others.

POWERS

CHECKS ON EXECUTIVE

CHECKS ON JUDICIARY

Passes federal laws	Controls appropriations	Senate approves appointments of judges
Passes federal budget, levies taxes and funds executive functions	Can override executive vetoes of legislation with a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress	Possesses power to impeach and remove judges
Establishes lower federal courts, judicial positions	Can impeach and remove president	Controls appropriations to federal courts
Approves treaties and federal appointments	Senate can deny confirmation to executive appointees or to treaties with foreign governments	Can curb judicial power by adding new judges and creating new court systems
Declares war	Possesses oversight powers	Writes rules that may limit powers of judicial review in certain legislation

Appears in these articles:

United States (Government); Constitution of the United States

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