You are the chief editor of a major American News Magazine. Write an editorial explaining what might happen if the system of checks and balances were eliminated. You may use a graphic editor to produce a political cartoon to help illustrate your editorial for an extra credit. Consider: the powers that each branch of the federal government has and the limitations on the powers of each branch.
Editorial: Editorials are a type of journalistic story that highlight an important issue for the public. They rely strongly on facts, but also make an argument for or against an issue. In your editorial, you will need to outline facts about the U.S. Federal Government and explain how a lack of checks and balances would alter its function.
Answers
Answer:
Consider lawmaking, for example. Congress has the power to make laws. However, the president has the power to veto, or turn down, proposed laws. With this veto power, the president can check the lawmaking power of Congress.
Does this power enable the president to stop any law passed by Congress from taking effect? If so, the president would have too much power. The Constitution, therefore, balances the president's power by also giving Congress the power to pass laws over the president's veto.
Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress. In this way, Congress can check the lawmaking power of the president.
The Supreme Court can also become involved in lawmaking because it has the power to interpret the meaning of laws in its decisions. The Court can use this power to declare that certain laws are unconstitutional and cannot be enforced.
There are many other checks and balances in the federal government. You will learn more about how the three branches of the federal government check and balance each other in future lessons.