There are three branches of Federal Government--

• Legislative - makes laws (congress, house of representatives and senate)

• Executive - carries out laws (president, vice president)

• Judicial - Evaluates laws (Supreme Court and other courts)

1. Congress (the legislative branch) can impeach a president and remove him/her from office. This checks the power of the executive branch.

2. The president (the executive branch) can veto a law passed by the congress. This checks the power of the legislative branch.

3. Congress (the legislative branch) can  override a president’s veto. This checks the power of the executive branch.

4. The Supreme Court (the Judicial branch) can declare a law unconstitutional . This checks the power of the executive branch.

5. The president (the executive branch) nominates judges. This checks the power of the Judicial branch.

Bills of Rights

• Amendment 1: This means that every person has freedom of religion, press, and speech. This just means that the person themself can choose their religion and what they want to say.

• Amendment 2: This means that anyone can have weapons such as guns at their home.

• Amendment 3: People are not forced to provide soldiers with a room in their house at any time of war.

• Amendment 4: This means that if police want to search someone's house, they must have a search warrant.

• Amendment 5: This means that if a person is accused of a crime, they are innocent until proven guilty in court.

• Amendment 6: Anyone accused of a crime has the right to a public trial.

• Amendment 7: Everyone has the right to trial by a jury if the damages are more than 20 dollars.

• Amendment 8: People are prohibited from cruel and unusual punishment.

• Amendment 9: Americans have additional rights that are not listed in the constitution.

• Amendment 10: Powers that are not given by the constitution to the US government belong to the states or to the people.