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Chantz
The system of checks and balances is a special part of the
Constitution. With checks and balances, each of the branches of government
can ration the powers of the other branches of government so that every branch
of
government can be equal and no one branch can be stronger than another.
The
way that laws are made is a good example of checks and balances of the
government in action. First, the Legislative branch introduces a law. Then it
gets sent to the leader of the United States who decides whether or not
the law is a good idea for the United States. If so, the President signs the
bill and it becomes an official law. If the President does not believe the bill
is good for the country, he does not sign it. This is called a veto.
But the legislative branch gets another chance. With enough votes, the
legislative branch can override the executive branch's veto, and the bill
becomes a law.
Once a law is in place, the people of the country can test it through the
court system, which is under the control of the judicial branch. If someone
believes a law is unfair, a lawsuit can be filed. Lawyers then make
arguments for and against the case, and a judge decides which side has
presented the most convincing arguments. The side that loses can choose to
appeal to a higher court, and may eventually reach the highest court of all,
the Supreme Court.
If the legislative branch does not agree with the way in which the judicial
branch has interpreted the law, they can introduce a new piece of
legislation, and the process starts all over again.
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