Structure of The National Legislature

New Jersey Plan

New Jersery Plan

had a unicameral legislature and one vote for the state

Structure of National Legislature

Virginia Plan

Virginia Plan   

• Had a bicameral legilsature
• was represented based on population in both houses.
• One House is elected directly by the people  
• the above House selects members of the other House.

Structure of The National Legislature

Connecticut Compromise

Connecticut Compromise 

Had a Bicameral legislature,

the upper house( US senate), 2 per state.  

Was originally selected by the state legislature, now it is selected by the people.  

The lower  house (House of Reprasentatives) was based upon population and was elected directly by the people.

Checks and Balances 

Congress 

Checks on President

Checks On President

1. Refusing to pass his bill/budget
2. overriding his veto, (2/3 votes in both houses)
3. Impeachment (Maj. vote h/r 2/3 on senate)
4. Refuse to approve appointments (sentate only)
5. Refuse to ratify treaties (senate only)

Checks and Balances 

Congress 

 Checks on Courts

Checks on Courts

1. Refuse to confirm apointment (senate only)
2. Impeachment
3. Changing #and Jurisdiction

Checks And Balances

President

Checks On Congress

Checks On Congress

1. Threatening a Veto
2. Veto

Checks And Balances

President

Checks on Courts

Checks on Courts

1. Nominating Judges

Checks And Balances

Courts

1. Checks on President by declaring Acts constitutional or unconstitutional
2. Checks on Legislature by declaring Legislation constitutional or unconstituional

Judges resigning

Judges resigning

A federal court judge may decided to delay his or her retirement until the time that a president is from the same party can fill the vacancy to ensure that they are replaced by a “like” minded judge. 

Appointment/confirmation power 

Appointment/confirmation power: 

The president’s ability to make appointments may depend upon the allocation of democrats and republicans in the U.S. senate. For example, if the democrats controlled the senate it would be more difficult for a republican president to have his appointments confirmed.

Filibuster: 

Filibuster: 

In the U.S.. senate, if a party does not have enough votes to defeat a bill or stop the confirmation of an appointee, they may conduct a filibuster to delay, prevent, or change a vote so long as they have 41 or more willing members.  If the majority party has 60 votes, the minority party would not have this ability.

Veto Power 

Veto Power 

Because of partisan politics, whether the president uses the veto or not may depend upon whether his party controls congress. It is less likely that the president will veto legislation coming from a congress that is from his party and more likely to use it if congress is controlled by the opposite party.