What system allows each branch to limit the powers of the others to prevent abuse?

What system allows each branch to limit the powers of the others to prevent abuse?

• A. Separation of Powers
• B. Checks and Balances
• C. Federalism
• D. Popular Sovereignty

Answer: (B)

Checks and balances is the system that lets each branch limit the powers of the others to prevent abuse. By design, the legislative, executive, and judicial branches hold overlapping powers and can constrain one another—for example, laws can be passed by Congress but may be vetoed by the president, and the Supreme Court can review and strike down laws or executive actions. These interlocking checks help keep any one branch from becoming unchecked. Separation of powers describes dividing government into three branches, which sets up distinct roles, but it doesn’t by itself describe how those branches actively limit each other. Federalism concerns the distribution of power between national and state governments, not inter-branch limits. Popular sovereignty is the idea that the people hold ultimate authority, not the mechanism that limits branch powers.

Checks and balances is the system that lets each branch limit the powers of the others to prevent abuse. By design, the legislative, executive, and judicial branches hold overlapping powers and can constrain one another—for example, laws can be passed by Congress but may be vetoed by the president, and the Supreme Court can review and strike down laws or executive actions. These interlocking checks help keep any one branch from becoming unchecked.

Separation of powers describes dividing government into three branches, which sets up distinct roles, but it doesn’t by itself describe how those branches actively limit each other. Federalism concerns the distribution of power between national and state governments, not inter-branch limits. Popular sovereignty is the idea that the people hold ultimate authority, not the mechanism that limits branch powers.