The Constitution made sure none of the branches could become too powerful. Each branch has ways to limit the power of the other two. This principle is called checks and balances. The president can say no, or veto, one of the congress's laws. Or Congress can refuse to approve an official the president wants to appoint, such as a justice of the Supreme Court. Or the court can strike down an action of the executive branch. At times, the branches have disagreed. Because of our democratic system and its checks and balances, the branches try to compromise.
REAL LIFE EXAMPLE: Figure 1
MORE EXAMPLES: The legislative branch can vote on and pass a law they feel is OK. The president, or the executive branch, can either pass the law off as well or Veto it, meaning the law won't pass. If the President says the law is Ok, but the supreme court (judiciary branch) doesn't think it's ok, they hold a court hearing to determine if the law is constitutional. If the law is deemed constitutional, it stays but if it is deemed unconstitutional, the law is taken out.
To learn more about checks and balances, click here, here, or here.
REAL LIFE EXAMPLE: Figure 1
MORE EXAMPLES: The legislative branch can vote on and pass a law they feel is OK. The president, or the executive branch, can either pass the law off as well or Veto it, meaning the law won't pass. If the President says the law is Ok, but the supreme court (judiciary branch) doesn't think it's ok, they hold a court hearing to determine if the law is constitutional. If the law is deemed constitutional, it stays but if it is deemed unconstitutional, the law is taken out.
To learn more about checks and balances, click here, here, or here.