The constitution kept branches from becoming too powerful by?

Question

The constitution kept branches from becoming too powerful by?

Answer 1

Checks and balances and ultimately the Supreme Court

Answer 2

It is called checks and balances. For example, the legislative branch proposes a bill, which is voted on by the senate and house of representatives and if passed, is presented to the executive branch, the president, for signing. The president can veto the bill, sending it back to congress. Congress then can vote again and if they get a 2/3rds majority, can override the veto, effectively forcing the president to sign the bill into law. The supreme court can review the bill and determine if it is constitutional and also strike down the law if it isn't. By each branch having the power to cancel the acts of the others, no one branch becomes more powerful than the others. Dubya is getting around these checks by using executive orders, which carry the weight of law, but without any checks by the other branches. Dubya is consolidating power in the executive branch by doing an end run through the use of executive orders. It bothers me that no one in government is challenging the use of the executive orders nor challenging the content as lawful and constitutional. Dubya took us into a war which is undeclared by congress by executive order. The constitution specifically says only congress can declare war, but we are in Iraq in what could only be called a war. The patriot act effectively negates the constitutional rights of the citizens. Dubya has been listening in on telephone conversations of US citizens without a warrant simply because he says it is legal for him to do so in an executive order, backed up by the patriot act, in his search for terrorists. Recently, the laws were changed yet again to allow electronic devices, computers, PDA's, MP3 players whatever, to be seized and examined without a warrant even when there is NO probable cause to suspect a person is a terrorist. In my opinion, the checks and balances written into the constitution are failing.

Answer 3

seperating them--we have 3--legislative---judical---executive---

legislative makes laws [congress]---judical interperates the law and executive enforces the law [president]

Answer 4

Giving powers to the people.  Which were taken away and handed to corporations by Bush.  It's a plan that started with Reagan and it is almost complete.

Good luck with your homework.  

Get involved with your town's politics.  That's what the founding fathers wanted.