Understanding Checks and Balances

Understanding Checks and Balances — page 1 — A BALANCING ACT AFTER LINCOLN On April 15 1865 Andrew Johnson was sworn in as president of the United States after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated Johnson led the country through a challenging period known as Reconstruction The Civil War was over but the nation had to be rebuilt There were many questions that the government needed to answer how would the Southern states be The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was one of the first official African American fighting units in the United States Nicknamed the Swamp Angels they fought alongside the Union Army during the Civil War treated What would happen to the freed slaves Johnson was a Southern Democrat The Republican-held Congress assumed he would go easy on the South and they were right He certainly tried He started reconstructing the South and let the states rejoin the Union with few consequences He even allowed the Southern states to limit the rights of freed slaves 4

Understanding Checks and Balances — page 2 — IMPEACHED Many in Congress disagreed with Johnson’s stance When they came back to session they passed bills to overturn the president’s actions Yet every time these bills were sent to Johnson he would veto them and send them back to Congress Congress would then get enough votes to override the presidential vetoes and pass the bills anyway In 1867 Congress felt Johnson had crossed the line by abusing his executive powers and wanted to impeach him The House of Representatives voted against Johnson but the Senate narrowly voted to acquit him His presidency was saved by one vote fast fact allowed to stay in office to Andrew Johnson was finish out his term After Andrew Johnson served as president he returned to Washington DC in 1875 to represent his state of Tennessee as a senator He died only a few months into his Senate term 5

Understanding Checks and Balances — page 3 — THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT The United States federal government is divided into three separate branches the legislative branch the executive branch and the judicial branch The state and local branches are divided in the same way too Each of the three branches has its own responsibilities and powers Each branch also has the authority to make sure that the other branches do not abuse their powers The way the system is set up if one branch fulfills a responsibility then another branch must check that action by approving it or vetoing it This is how power stays balanced in the government This system of checks and balances prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful To get anything done in the U S federal government at least two branches must work together THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE makes laws EXECUTIVE carries out laws JUDICIAL evaluates laws 6

Understanding Checks and Balances — page 4 — BUILDING THE BRANCHES The legislative branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate The executive branch is made up of the president vice president and cabinet The judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court and federal courts fast fact Checks and balances act like a scale When one branch tries to take more power and tip the scale in its direction another branch will use its powers of checks to balance the scale again No Kings The U S government was set up so that no branch could seize complete power over the country To prevent a president from ruling like a king Congress has the right to override vetoes and even remove the president from office after an impeachment trial These are just two examples of the many checks and balances set out in the U S Constitution The U S Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives It is located in the Capitol building in Washington DC 7

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