Question

Identify three checks on the power of the president. Then identify a recent example (within the last five years) of one of these checks.

Answer 1

1. impeachment - Congress has the power to impeach a president (remove from power) if the president is engaged in unlawful activities.
2. Veto override - Congress has the power to override presidential vetoes. If the president rejects, or vetoes, a bill passed by Congress, a 2/3 majority vote in the house and senate will enact the bill into law despite the veto.
3. Congress has the power over the purse strings to actually fund any executive actions.

example...(veto override) The Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 also known as the 2008 U.S. Farm Bill. The Farm Bill was a 288 billion, five year agriculture policy that was passed into law by the U.S. Congress on June 18, 2008. On May 15, the Congress passed the bill but President Bush vetoed the bill on May 21. The house passed the Farm Bill again on May 22, and the Senate shortly thereafter. President Bush again vetoed the measure , but this veto was overridden in both houses on June 18, so the Farm Bill became law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food,_Conservation,_and_Energy_Act_of_2008