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How To Write An Essay About Checks And Balances

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Checks and Balances of the U.S Constitution
Presidential and Congressional Vetoes

The U.S Constitution prevents the abuse of power by dividing the federal government into three branches. Each branch has their own assigned responsibilities and has authority to limit the power of other branches. This is done through a system of checks and balances, all of which are crucial in maintaining the balance of power within the U.S government. One of the most important checks and balances occurs between the legislative and executive branches of government. It works so that the President can veto any laws created by Congress, but Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote. This check and balance is extremely important in fulfilling the goals of …show more content…

If the President were to veto a beneficial law that went against his or her beliefs or that would take away from his or her power, the congressional veto could allow the law to be passed anyway. For example, in 1845, Congress vetoed President John Tyler’s veto of a law denied him the ability to use federal funds to build revenue cutter ships without congressional approval. If Congress had not have vetoed Tyler’s veto, then the President would have had more power and could potentially abuse this power as well.

The two-thirds congressional veto rule upholds the idea of democracy in the United States among many other things. American democracy rests on idea of majority rule, which means that the wishes of the majority determine what government does. In fact, the House of Representatives, part of Congress, was created to ensure majority rule. By allowing Congress’s two-thirds majority vote to override a President’s veto, this check and balance is utilizing the majority rule, an important part of American

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