Final answer:
Checks and balances is a system used in American government to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful by providing oversight and restraint over the others' actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Checks and Balances
The basic concept behind checks and balances is integral to the structure of American government. It is designed to prevent any one branch of the government—executive, legislative, or judicial—from becoming too powerful, thereby protecting against corruption and abuse of power. For instance, Congress holds the power to limit the president's veto, reflecting the ability of one branch to check the authority of another.
Each branch has been granted certain powers that allow it to restrain the powers of the others. An example of this system in action is the legislative process, whereby both the Senate and the House of Representatives must agree on a bill for it to become law. Similarly, presidential appointments and treaties must be confirmed by the Senate, and the judiciary can be checked by impeachment and requires Senate confirmation.
Moreover, judicial review strengthens this system by allowing the Supreme Court to review the actions of the other branches to ensure they are constitutional. These balances form a network of oversight akin to a game of rock, paper, scissors, where each branch can counteract the others, maintaining a balance of power.