What are check and balances?

Answer 1

The term "checks and balances" refers to a system of quality control that ensures things (or people) stay within the prescribed limits and guidelines.

For instance, by having a system of checks and balances on your store inventory and on your cash register sales, you can make sure the inventory is being sold and not stolen. You "check" the inventory and you "check" the cash register receipts, then you "balance" the one against the other to make sure everything missing from inventory has been paid for.

The term probably comes from a standard accounting practice called a "balance sheet"( where a company's assets are checked and listed alongside its liabilities, requiring that the two figures balance to zero.)

Answer

The principle known as "separation of powers" which is also referred to as "checks and balances" serves as testament to the brilliance and forethought of the drafters of the Constitution of the United States of America. By designing a tripartite federal government, a federal government with three, coequal branches, the drafters bequeathed to their descendants the last, best hope for government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Assuming everything works as designed, the drafters created the governmental equivalent of rock, paper scissors.

However, separation of powers does not operate or emerge in a vacuum. It is the result of a multi-layered design which includes the complimentary principle known as "division of powers." Division of powers is the often overlooked principle of dividing governmental power among the federal, state, and local governments. Also, each level of government within the United States of America is comprised of an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch.

In sum, the complimentary principles known as "separation of powers" and "division of powers" operate and emerge in such a way as to prevent the concentration of governmental power from reaching the level at which real harm may be done.

To view a transcript of the Preamble as well as Articles I through VII of the Constitution of the United States of America, a transcript of the 1st through the 10th Amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, and a transcript of the 11th through the 27th Amendments, access the links under Related Links, below.
the ability of each branch of government to exercise checks or controls over the other branches
The checks and balances of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Answer 2

The term "checks and balances" refers to a system of quality control that ensures things (or people) stay within the prescribed limits and guidelines.

For instance, by having a system of checks and balances on your store inventory and on your cash register sales, you can make sure the inventory is being sold and not stolen. You "check" the inventory and you "check" the cash register receipts, then you "balance" the one against the other to make sure everything missing from inventory has been paid for.

The term probably comes from a standard accounting practice called a "balance sheet"( where a company's assets are checked and listed alongside its liabilities, requiring that the two figures balance to zero.)

Answer

The principle known as "separation of powers" which is also referred to as "checks and balances" serves as testament to the brilliance and forethought of the drafters of the Constitution of the United States of America. By designing a tripartite federal government, a federal government with three, coequal branches, the drafters bequeathed to their descendants the last, best hope for government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Assuming everything works as designed, the drafters created the governmental equivalent of rock, paper scissors.

However, separation of powers does not operate or emerge in a vacuum. It is the result of a multi-layered design which includes the complimentary principle known as "division of powers." Division of powers is the often overlooked principle of dividing governmental power among the federal, state, and local governments. Also, each level of government within the United States of America is comprised of an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch.

In sum, the complimentary principles known as "separation of powers" and "division of powers" operate and emerge in such a way as to prevent the concentration of governmental power from reaching the level at which real harm may be done.

To view a transcript of the Preamble as well as Articles I through VII of the Constitution of the United States of America, a transcript of the 1st through the 10th Amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, and a transcript of the 11th through the 27th Amendments, access the links under Related Links, below.
the ability of each branch of government to exercise checks or controls over the other branches
The checks and balances of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Answer 3

The term "checks and balances" refers to a system of quality control that ensures things (or people) stay within the prescribed limits and guidelines.

For instance, by having a system of checks and balances on your store inventory and on your cash register sales, you can make sure the inventory is being sold and not stolen. You "check" the inventory and you "check" the cash register receipts, then you "balance" the one against the other to make sure everything missing from inventory has been paid for.

The term probably comes from a standard accounting practice called a "balance sheet"( where a company's assets are checked and listed alongside its liabilities, requiring that the two figures balance to zero.)

Answer

The principle known as "separation of powers" which is also referred to as "checks and balances" serves as testament to the brilliance and forethought of the drafters of the Constitution of the United States of America. By designing a tripartite federal government, a federal government with three, coequal branches, the drafters bequeathed to their descendants the last, best hope for government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Assuming everything works as designed, the drafters created the governmental equivalent of rock, paper scissors.

However, separation of powers does not operate or emerge in a vacuum. It is the result of a multi-layered design which includes the complimentary principle known as "division of powers." Division of powers is the often overlooked principle of dividing governmental power among the federal, state, and local governments. Also, each level of government within the United States of America is comprised of an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch.

In sum, the complimentary principles known as "separation of powers" and "division of powers" operate and emerge in such a way as to prevent the concentration of governmental power from reaching the level at which real harm may be done.

To view a transcript of the Preamble as well as Articles I through VII of the Constitution of the United States of America, a transcript of the 1st through the 10th Amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, and a transcript of the 11th through the 27th Amendments, access the links under Related Links, below.
the ability of each branch of government to exercise checks or controls over the other branches
The checks and balances of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.