History of the USA · The modern United States. The idea in plain words, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid and a worked example, written and checked by Mega Lecture.
The Constitution divides power in two ways. Federalism shares it between the national government and the states. The separation of powers splits the national government into three branches: Congress makes the laws, the President carries them out and the courts interpret them.
Each branch can check the others. The President may veto a bill, Congress may override the veto, the Senate approves treaties and appointments, and Congress can impeach.
The courts hold the power of judicial review: they can declare a law unconstitutional. This power is not written in the Constitution. Chief Justice John Marshall established it in Marbury v. Madison (1803). The Constitution can be changed, but only by a deliberately difficult process.
Impeachment is not removal. The House only brings the charges; the official is removed only if two-thirds of the Senate vote to convict.
Answer: 38 states must ratify, and the President's signature is not required.
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