Question 4 - Social Studies Practice Test for the GED Test

Checks, Balances, and Constitutional Defense

Even long ago, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay were defending the Constitution. They wrote their defense in the Federalist, saying that built-in restraints were important. Quoting from their text, “You must first enable government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” Each branch of government had been given powers by the constitution to limit one or more of the other branches. For example, the legislative branch could remove officials from office, including the President. The Congress could be limited by the President’s power to veto legislation and the Supreme Court is monitored by the Presidential appointments to it and the “advice and consent” of the Senate. Chief Justice Marshall actually created the present three way restraint system when he instituted the judicial review policy. This confirms the present policy of checks and balances in the U.S. Government.