what is checks and balances?

Answer 1

Checks and Balances simply refers to the ability of different branches of government to ensure other branches of government do not become too powerful. In the US, we see checks and balances used at a Federal level to ensure that none of the branches of government-Legislative, Executive, or Judicial branch, becomes more powerful or uses power not provided to them by the Constitution.

Here are a few examples:

1. The Congress (Legislative branch) passes a bill to become a law, but the President (Executive Branch) has the power to sign or veto (prevent from becoming law) the bill.
2. The President nominates a justice to the SC, but Congress is need to confirm the appointment and can choose not to confirm the candidate.

Answer 2

Checks and balances is a system of overlapping political powers. Each branch of government has some authority over the other branches. For example, the Congress makes laws, the President can veto legislation, and the Courts can declare laws unconstitutional. The purpose of not only separating powers between three branches, but requiring that they share some powers is to ensure that one area of government does not become too powerful. While separation of powers provides a first defense against power becoming concentrated in the hands of the few, checks and balances offers a double security against tyranny.

Answer 3

3 branches of government, judicial, legistlative and executive, sharing power, coequally, so each is a check on the abuse of power by the other branches. They balance each other.

Power was shared, balanced, between the states and federal government, with each as a check against abuse of power by the other.

The main concern of the Constitution authors was to prevent tyranny they had experienced under British rule.

The Senate avoids total popular representation by balancing the power of the larger states against the smaller states. Same with the Electoral College. "Tyranny of the Majority" was another concern, as rights of minorities was a check on abuse of authority of the majority.

The Bill of Rights was check against the abuse of authority by all levels of government, protecting the individual from abuse of authority by government. 10th Amendment was another check against the federal government.

"Balance" is similar to the Scales of Justice the Blindfolded Lady holds, as justice means each side gets an equal chance to achieve justice.

4th, 5th, 6th & 8th Amendments are attempts to balance the rights of the criminally accused against prosecutors.

The 1st Amendment's rights are a check against government persecution of dissent or unpopular religious beliefs.

The 2nd Amendment, while supposedly for just hunting and self defense, as well as for a well regulated militia, actually was more of an attempt to give the individuals the right to oppose and check tyranny. The French Constitution granted the "right to revolt" to have a revolution, which is highly idealistic, while the American Constitution was more practical, giving the People the right to own guns to pull off a revolution.