checked and balanced
Power distributed fairly
Checked and balanced describes a system where competing powers restrain each other, preventing any single authority from dominating.
The phrase derives from constitutional theory, where separate branches of government check and balance one another: The framers wanted power checked and balanced across institutions.
More loosely, it describes any arrangement where oversight prevents abuse.
- counterweightsMasses balancing a load
- veto powerAuthority to reject decisions
- consensus buildingAchieving group accord collaboratively
- give and takeMutual concession between parties
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
executive branch · constitutional safeguards · judicial review · due process · federalism · impeachment · rule of law · fail-safe mechanisms · split the difference · bicameral legislature · conflict resolution · feedback loops · oversight committees · watchdog role · enumerated powers · stress testing · ethical guidelines · risk assessment
checked and balancedautocratic
Ruling with absolute authority
dictatorial · tyrannical · despotic · authoritarian · totalitarian
checked and balancedunaccountable
Not required to justify
unrestrained · unfettered · unlimited · arbitrary · above the law
check, checked, checks, checking, checker, checkers, checkable, uncheck, unchecked