check and balance
Power limiting power
A check and balance is a mechanism that limits power by requiring oversight or approval from another party.
The phrase derives from the constitutional principle of checks and balances, where branches of government constrain each other.
In general use, it describes any safeguard against unchecked authority: The board serves as a check and balance on executive decisions.
- impeachmentCharging officials with misconduct
- legislativeConcerning the creation of laws
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
congressional oversight · constitution · founding fathers · accountability · integrity · lame duck · government · constitutional amendments · veto · habeas corpus · rule of law · federalism · bicameralism · due process · regulatory agencies · veto power · executive oversight · oversight
check and balanceabsolute power
Unrestricted governmental control
autocracy · dictatorship · tyranny · despotism · totalitarianism
check and balanceimpunity
Freedom from consequences
unaccountability · carte blanche · free rein · blank check · rule by decree
check, checks, checked, checking, checker, checkers, checkmate, recheck, rechecked