The Constitution sets out the authority and the limits of the branches of the government. The term checks and balances means that
A) Congress writes checks and the other branches balance the budget.
B) each branch has some power to limit the actions of the others.
C) the courts balance their authority to the other branches' checklists.
D) the president "checks" the courts, which "balance" the laws.

Question

The Constitution sets out the authority and the limits of the branches of the government. The term checks and balances means that​
A) ​Congress writes checks and the other branches balance the budget.
B) ​each branch has some power to limit the actions of the others.
C) ​the courts balance their authority to the other branches' checklists.
D) ​the president "checks" the courts, which "balance" the laws.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Checks and balances refers to the distribution of powers among the three branches of government – legislative, executive, and judicial, in a way that each branch has some power to check or limit the actions of the others, thus preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful. This is an important feature of the Constitution in ensuring that the government functions democratically and does not become tyrannical. Therefore, option B accurately describes the meaning of checks and balances. Option A is incorrect because it refers to a financial concept and not a political concept. Option C is incorrect because it suggests that the authority of the courts is dependent on a "checklist", which is not accurate. Option D is incorrect because it incorrectly describes the relationship between the President and the courts.

The Constitution Sets Out the Authority and the Limits of the Branches