Checks and balances have changed a lot since the Constitution was created in 1787. At first, the people who wrote the Constitution, called the Framers, set up a system where each part of the government (the legislative, executive, and judicial branches) had its own powers and could keep the other parts in check.
Important Changes:
Impeachments: As of 2023, there have been 19 impeachments in the House of Representatives. Out of those, 3 led to trials in the Senate for presidents.
Judicial Review: This was established by the case Marbury v. Madison in 1803. It gave the Supreme Court the power to strike down laws that don't fit with the Constitution.
Executive Orders: Presidents have been using executive orders more often. This went from 104 orders in the 20th century to about 40 orders each year in more recent times.
These checks and balances keep changing to fit new political and social situations, while still protecting our democracy.
Checks and balances have changed a lot since the Constitution was created in 1787. At first, the people who wrote the Constitution, called the Framers, set up a system where each part of the government (the legislative, executive, and judicial branches) had its own powers and could keep the other parts in check.
Important Changes:
Impeachments: As of 2023, there have been 19 impeachments in the House of Representatives. Out of those, 3 led to trials in the Senate for presidents.
Judicial Review: This was established by the case Marbury v. Madison in 1803. It gave the Supreme Court the power to strike down laws that don't fit with the Constitution.
Executive Orders: Presidents have been using executive orders more often. This went from 104 orders in the 20th century to about 40 orders each year in more recent times.
These checks and balances keep changing to fit new political and social situations, while still protecting our democracy.