Congress plays an important role in keeping the U.S. government balanced. As part of the government, Congress helps make sure that the president and the judges don’t have too much power. Here’s how they do it:

1. Making Laws

• Creating Laws: Congress is in charge of making laws. If the president disagrees with a law and decides to veto it, Congress can still make it law if two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate agree. This way, the wishes of the people can still be heard.

2. Oversight (Checking Power)

• Investigations: Congress can look into different matters, especially decisions made by the president. For example, during the Watergate scandal, Congress worked hard to investigate President Nixon’s actions. This helped keep leaders accountable for their choices.

3. Controlling Money

• Power Over Spending: Congress controls how the federal government spends money. The president can’t start funding projects without Congress agreeing first. For example, there were times when Congress decided not to give money for certain military actions, which influenced what the president could do.

4. Impeachment

• Holding Leaders Accountable: Congress can impeach (charge) and remove a president or federal judges if they do something wrong. This means no one in the government is above the law. A famous case is when President Bill Clinton was impeached by the House but the Senate chose not to remove him.

With these powers, Congress not only keeps its own power but also protects democracy. They make sure that no single branch of government can take over everything.