What is the meaning of checks and balances?

Answer 1

Each branch of government has some control over the other two branches, so that no single branch of government becomes too powerful.

"Checks and balances" refers to the principle of government under which separate branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and are induced to share power. Checks and balances are applied primarily in constitutional governments. They are of fundamental importance in tripartite governments, such as that of the U.S., that separate powers among legislative, executive, and judicial departments. Checks and balances, which modify the separation of powers, may operate under parliamentary systems through exercise of a parliament's prerogative to adopt a no-confidence vote against a government; the government, or cabinet, in turn, ordinarily may dissolve the parliament. In one-party political systems, informal checks and balances may operate when organs of an authoritarian or totalitarian regime compete for power.

The three branches; legislative, executive, and judicial, keep one man or group from becoming too powerful. Each branch restrains the other from becoming too powerful through checks and balances. The executive branch can veto a passed law from the legislative, while the legislative branch can cancel that veto with 2 thirds vote from both houses of congress and the judicial branch can decide if a law is unconstitutional. The Judicial supreme court's members are appointed by the executive branch then approved by congress.

Answer 2

Checks and balance refers to processes that keep other processes balanced. For instance, tasks in a process may double check the quality of a product produced by another system.