9.

6 Checks and Balances Between the

Branches
Checking the Power of Other Branches
• Checks and balances are a system that enables each
branch of the government to limit the power of the
others.
• Checks allow one branch to block the actions of
another.
 Balancing the Power of Other Branches

• Balances allow each branch of government to

have some role in the actions and power of
the others.
• This system of checks and balances keeps any
one branch of the government from becoming
too strong.
 9.7 The Amendment Process Changes the
Constitution
How Do We Change the Constitution?
• Changing the Constitution is possible, but very
difficult.
• Changes to the Constitution are called
“amendments”.
 What, and How Many Amendments so far?

• There are a total of 27 amendments—the first

10 came immediately after the Constitution
was ratified.
• The first ten are called the “Bill of Rights”.
• The latter 17 came one at a time.
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expressi
on

Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms

Amendment 3 - Quartering of Soldiers
Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure
Amendment 5 - Trial and Punishment, Compensatio
n for Takings

Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation

of Witnesses

Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases

Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution
Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People
Amendment 11 - Judicial Limits
Amendment 12 - Choosing the President, Vice Presid
Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights
Amendment 15 - Race No Bar to Vote
Amendment 16 - Status of Income Tax Clarified
Amendment 17 - Senators Elected by Popular Vote
Amendment 18 - Liquor Abolished
Amendment 19 - Women's Suffrage
Amendment 20 - Presidential, Congressional Terms
Amendment 21 - Amendment 18 Repealed
Amendment 22 - Presidential Term Limits
Amendment 23 - Presidential Vote for District of Colum
bia

Amendment 24 - Poll Taxes Barred

Amendment 25 - Presidential Disability and Succession
Amendment 26 - Voting Age Set to 18 Years
Amendment 27 - Limiting Changes to Congressional Pay
 9.8 The Federal System Connects the Nation
and the States
What Powers Belong To the National Government?
• Declaring war, making treaties, printing money.
• The “Commerce Clause” gives the national
government power to regulate trade.
• States can’t tax other states on imports—free-trade
zone.
• Goods flow more easily from state to state.
• Easier to create large businesses that cross state lines.
• Creates a single national economy
 What Powers Belong to the States?

• The Constitution doesn’t specify the powers of

the states. The states have power over anything
not given to the national government.
• States must uphold the laws and legal decisions of
other states.
• States must help each other track down criminals.
• States cannot discriminate against those of
another state.
 What Powers Are Shared?

• “Federalism” is the term that refers to the federal

government and the states sharing power.
• Both: raise taxes, build roads, borrow money.
• In some situations, the two work together (i.e.
elections).
 What Is The Law Of The Land?

• The Constitution and the laws flowing from it are

the supreme law of the land.
• Everything—laws, decisions, etc. must agree with
the Constitution
9.9 Popular Participation in Government

• The Constitution is set up so that citizens will

take an active role in the government. This is
all based on “majority rule”.
• This is mainly done through elections.
• A “party” is an organized political group. They
usually play a major role in getting candidates
elected.
 9.9 Continued
• “Interest Groups” are groups of people who
care about a specific issue or other groups of
people.
• They influence government through public
opinion, getting candidates elected, and
persuading lawmakers.
 9.10 Summary
• The Constitution has lasted as long as it has because it is
both flexible and stable. It is divided up into articles and
sections. The first three deal with the three branches of
government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The
Constitution gives certain powers to each branch, and
some powers they share which is called “federalism”. It
has a system called “checks and balances” to ensure that
not any one branch becomes too powerful. The Const.
can be changed but it is difficult to do. These changes
are called “amendments”.