Journal+Day+27

Day 27: The System of Checks and Balances

James Madison,

It is a hot, hot summer, and I have been debating all day. We already have a rough draft of our new government. But then Patrick Henry made a point: The Government will have too much power. So, we immediately debated how the Governments powers should be regulated. We already had the idea of 3 branches of Government from our quarrel over the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. So, I and other delegates suggested a system to check up and keep the other branches powers in check. We dubbed this The System of Checks and Balances. This system revolved around giving each branch different powers, and also giving branches powers to override powers. For example, Congress approves the Supreme Court Justices that the President picks. But the President can veto bill. And the Judicial Branch can declare acts of the other branches unconstitutional. These checks and balances keep any one branch from having all the power. This is, by far, the most important features of the new Government.

James Madison

Heres a rough sketch a drew of the system of checks and balances: