What ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful?

The concept that ensures no one branch of government becomes too powerful is checks and balances. This system is foundational to the structure of the U.S. government and is designed to prevent any single branch—executive, legislative, or judicial—from exercising excessive power.

Checks and balances operate by allowing each branch to have a measure of influence over the others, providing a system of mutual regulation. For example, while the legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch has the power to veto legislation, and the judicial branch can review the constitutionality of those laws. This ability to oversee and limit the actions of one another creates a dynamic where cooperation and compromise are necessary for effective governance.

In contrast, popular sovereignty relates to the authority of the government being derived from the consent of the governed, establishing the idea that power ultimately resides with the people. Federalism refers to the division of power between national and state governments, creating a different layer of authority but not specifically addressing the balance between branches. Judicial restraint involves the courts exercising caution in reviewing laws and actions but does not directly contribute to the structural balance of power among the branches themselves.

Thus, checks and balances is the mechanism that specifically maintains equilibrium among the branches of government, ensuring that no single branch dominates or undermines the