Checks and balances are limitations on the power of any branch of government, with each branch having some control over the actions of the others. The United States system of government is based on a set of checks and balances. The system is designed to prevent one person or branch of government from becoming too powerful.
The Constitution of the United States divides the powers of the federal government among the president, Congress, and the federal courts. Each branch has some powers that offset those of the other two. For example, the president can veto bills passed by Congress, but the veto power is balanced by Congress’s power to pass bills over a veto. The president influences the federal courts by appointing judges, and such appointments require congressional approval. On the other hand, the federal courts can restrain both the president and Congress with their power to declare presidential orders or legislative acts unconstitutional.
The system of checks and balances also works between the two houses of Congress. Before a bill becomes law, both the Senate and the House of Representatives must approve it in identical form. If the Senate and House pass different versions, a conference committee of senators and representatives tries to work out the differences. This system ensures that both houses of Congress will have a voice in making laws.
Many countries have a democratic government without a system of checks and balances or separation of the powers of government. In Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, for example, executive power rests with the prime minister and Cabinet, who are members of Parliament, the legislative body. In addition, the courts in certain of these countries, including the United Kingdom and Switzerland, cannot declare an act of the nation’s Parliament invalid.
