Final answer:
Checks and balances is a system in the U.S. government that prevents any one branch from gaining too much power, with the executive branch and Congress having several ways to check and balance each other's powers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Checks and Balances between the Executive Branch and Congress
Checks and balances are a fundamental principle of the United States government, designed to ensure that no single branch becomes too powerful. The system requires the executive, judicial, and legislative branches to work together and allows each branch to exercise some form of control over the others. One of the key aspects of this system is the interaction between the executive branch and Congress, which involves several mechanisms for each to monitor and limit the power of the other.
For example, although Congress has the power to make laws, the President can exercise a veto to reject legislation. However, this veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Additionally, while the President can make treaties and appoint judges, these actions require approval from the Senate. Congress can also impeach and remove the President, and it has the authority to impeach judges. The Supreme Court can exercise judicial review, a power established in Marbury v. Madison, to determine the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress and actions taken by the President.
The interplay between the legislative and executive branches is a constant balancing act, influenced by political dynamics and interpretation of the Constitution. This ensures a system of checks within checks, where each branch is regulated by the others, maintaining the balance of power as intended by the nation's founders.