Final answer:
The U.S. government has a system of checks and balances that allows Congress to limit presidential power by refusing to pass laws or provide funds, and through the impeachment process, which requires the House to impeach and the Senate to convict. Additionally, the judicial branch can declare actions or laws unconstitutional, providing another layer of oversight against abuses of power.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Congress and/or the President are found to be abusing their powers or committing overreach, there are several mechanisms in place to address such issues. Congress can overrule presidential executive orders by changing the law, since many presidential powers are actually delegated from Congress. Furthermore, Congress has the authority to impeach and remove a president from office for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors” through a process starting with impeachment by the House of Representatives and a trial in the Senate.
Checks and balances are integral to the U.S. government, ensuring that each branch can limit the powers of the others. This system is designed to prevent one branch, including the executive, from gaining too much power. The judicial branch, through judicial review established in Marbury v. Madison, also has the capacity to declare laws or actions by Congress and the President unconstitutional, serving as a guard against overreach.
Moreover, public opinion, interest groups, and other external forces can influence governmental actions and may initiate calls for accountability if power is misused. Throughout history, periods of warfare or national crisis, such as those under President Abraham Lincoln or post-9/11, have been times when presidential power expanded, sometimes leading to debate regarding the constitutionality of certain actions taken by the executive branch.