checks and balances
Governmental oversight system
Checks and balances is a system where different parts of a government limit each other's power, preventing any single branch from dominating.
The U.S.
Constitution embodies this principle: Congress passes laws, the president can veto them, and courts can strike them down.
The framers designed checks and balances to prevent tyranny.
The phrase extends to any arrangement of mutual oversight.
Constitutional distribution of authority
- judicial reviewCourts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- federalismDivided governmental authority system
- bicameralismLegislature with two houses
- vetoOfficial refusal to approve
impeachment · amendment · enumerated powers · executive branch · legislative branch · judicial branch · congressional oversight · supreme court
Formally registering a choice
- electionsFormal choosing of officials
- representative governmentRule by elected officials
- republicState with elected leaders
- citizenshipStatus as state member
majority rule · minority rights · popular sovereignty · consent of governed · civic participation · free press · public accountability · term limits
Obligation for one's actions
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- auditFormal accounts examination
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- watchdogGuard or monitor
transparency · compliance · regulation · inspector general · oversight committee · congressional hearing · subpoena · investigation
Balancing mass in machinery
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- restraintControl over impulses
- limitationBound on extent
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
countervailing · diffusion · moderation · interdependence · offsetting · power sharing
separation of powers
Constitutional distribution of authority
- judicial reviewCourts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- federalismDivided governmental authority system
- bicameralismLegislature with two houses
veto · impeachment · amendment · enumerated powers · executive branch · legislative branch · judicial branch · congressional oversight · supreme court · bill of rights
voting
Formally registering a choice
- electionsFormal choosing of officials
- representative governmentRule by elected officials
- republicState with elected leaders
citizenship · majority rule · minority rights · popular sovereignty · consent of governed · civic participation · free press · public accountability · term limits · recall
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- auditFormal accounts examination
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
watchdog · transparency · compliance · regulation · inspector general · oversight committee · congressional hearing · subpoena · investigation · whistleblower
counterweight
Balancing mass in machinery
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- restraintControl over impulses
- limitationBound on extent
constraint · countervailing · diffusion · moderation · interdependence · offsetting · power sharing
- checks and balancesseparation of powers, veto power, impeachment, congressional oversight, executive privilege
- Early RepublicGeorge Washington, Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Constitutional Convention
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
- lawlaw, lawyer, lawyers, attorney, attorneys
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
checks and balancesautocracy
Rule by one
absolute power · dictatorship · tyranny · despotism · totalitarianism
checks and balancesrule by decree
unilateral action · carte blanche · blank check · free hand · rubber-stamping
check, balance, balanced, checks, unbalanced, balancing, balances, checker, checkbook