Through the principle of Separation of Powers we have three branches of government. These branches are the Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, and Judicial Branch. Each of them have different duties they carry out to run our government. Many of these powers are also based on the major principles that influenced our Constitution: popular sovereignty, rule of law, and checks and balances. Learning Targets: ---Explain how power is distributed among the three branches of government. ---Describe the effect that major principles of government had on our Constitution Show -Legislative oversight is the power to review executive branch activities on an ongoing basis. In modern American government, the executive carries out those laws through a huge bureaucracy of multiple agencies and hundreds of public officials. Thus, the oversight power of Congress can be focused on a wide array of programs and officials. -Legislative oversight is a good example of how checks and balances work. Congress makes the laws, and the executive branch carries them out. As it does so, the executive branch interprets what the laws mean in a practical sense. Later Congress can check how the executive branch has administered the law and decide whether it met the law's goals. -First, lawmakers do not have enough staff, time, or money to keep track of everything going on in the executive branch. Second, lawmakers know that oversight does not interest many voters, unless it uncovers a scandal or major problem. Third, some legislation and regulations are so vague that it is difficult to know exactly what they mean. Without clear objectives, lawmakers have little means of judging whether the executive branch is doing its job. -Finally, committees sometimes come to favor the federal agencies they are supposed to oversee. Lawmakers and the officials who work for a federal agency often become well-acquainted because they spend long hours working together. This creates the possibility that committee members will not be objective when assessing the performance of people who work at the agency How Congress Limits the Executive Congress exercises oversight in several ways. It requires executive agencies to report to it. The 1946 Employment Act, for example, requires the president to send Congress an annual report on the nation's economy. During a recent congressional term, federal agencies submitted more than 1,000 reports to Congress. Keeping up with the reports, especially those that relate to a member's committee assignment, is an important job. A second oversight technique is for Congress to ask one of its support agencies, such as the Government Accountability Office (GAO), to study an agency's work. The GAO typically examines the finances of federal agencies to see if public money is being spent appropriately and legally. Obviously, the power of the purse gives Congress another means of overseeing the executive branch. Each year Congress reviews the budgets of all agencies in the executive branch. Congress can then decide to expand, reduce, or eliminate certain programs in the budget. For years, Congress exercised oversight power by using the legislative veto. Congress put provisions into some laws that allowed it to review and cancel actions of the executive agencies carrying out those laws. In effect, Congress was claiming authority over officials who worked in the executive branch. In 1983 the Supreme Court ruled in Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha that the legislative veto was unconstitutional because it violated the separation of powers.
Home Subjects Expert solutions Create Log in Sign up Upgrade to remove ads Only ₩37,125/year
Terms in this set (20)Checks and Balances No one branch has more power than any other. Each branch cannot make a major decision without the consent of at least one other branch. Federalism Division of powers between the federal and state levels of government. Popular Sovereignty Power is held by the people who select leaders and make decisions through voting. Limited Government No one person or group in government has unlimited power. Separation of Powers Division of powers between the three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial). checks and balances The President is commander-in-chief, but Congress can declare war reflects this principle. federalism The fact that the state level of government has the power to create a public school system reflects this principle. separation of powers The fact that the judicial branch has the power to decide legal cases reflects this principle. popular sovereignty The phrase "We the people..." in the Preamble of the Constitution reflects this principle. limited government
The Constitution denies the states the power to create their own currency reflects this principle. Federalism The 10th Amendment reflects which principle of the Constitution? Limited Government The Bill of Rights reflect which principle of the Constitution? What do all of the principles have in common? They all limit the power of the federal government. Individual Rights citizens possess basic rights and liberties that the government will protect Popular Sovereignty the power of government comes from the people Republicanism form of government where voters choose representatives to exercise the power voters give to them, on their behalf. Limited Government The government is not all powerful. There are limits to what it can do. The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land and ALL government officials are subject to the law. Separation of Powers divides the powers of the government into three separate groups to ensure no branch becomes too powerful Checks and Balances ensures that the three branches of government would be able to limit the power of the other branches Federalism power is shared between the federal and state governments Students also viewedSER/TENER/GUSTAR/LLAMAR25 terms Brett_Hendricks4Teacher Spanish I Complete Verbs44 terms Brett_Hendricks4Teacher Spanish I Semester II Complete312 terms Brett_Hendricks4Teacher Module 762 terms reagan3192 Other sets by this creatorMod 3.2 - New England Colonies14 terms Stratman-History Module 18 Review (The Civil War)30 terms Stratman-History Module 15 Review (Slavery in the United States)36 terms Stratman-History Module 14.316 terms Stratman-History Verified questionspolitics of the united states What is the plain view doctrine? Verified answer politics of the united states What are the ideals of American democracy? Verified answer
politics of the united states Explain Major Political Ideas Explain major political ideas in history, including social contract theory. Use valid primary and secondary sources to write a paragraph explaining social contract theory. Consider the following questions to support your response: What is social contract theory? How does social contract theory explain why governments are created? What political thinkers are associated with social contract theory? Verified answer
politics of the united states Evaluate the Impact of the Internet Evaluate the impact of the Internet on the political process. Write a paragraph evaluating the impact of online voting. Consider the following questions: How often has online voting been used? What are the benefits and drawbacks of online voting? Verified answer Other Quizlet setsConflict and Change in Europe (SS6H3)14 terms Sebastian_Reglin Semester final study guide.20 terms NATALIE_YATES49 Exam 1 Borden33 terms gvillegas6123 Microbiology Chapter 114 terms Harley1624 |