Final answer:
Checks and Balances are a core democratic principle of American government, ensuring that no one branch wields too much power over the others. Each branch has specific powers and measures of influence over the other branches, allowing them to check or restrain their operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Checks and Balances are a core democratic principle of American government, whereby each branch of the government (executive, judicial, and legislative) has some measure of influence over the other branches and may choose to block procedures of the other branches.
The three branches of government have specific powers granted to them that the other branches do not. This includes the power to check or restrain the operations of the other branches, ensuring that no one branch wields too much power.
For example, when making laws, both the Senate and the House of Representatives must agree to a bill, ensuring that both branches have a say in the legislative process.