Which practice helps ensure no single branch controls the government unchecked?

• A. Federalism.
• B. Judicial supremacy.
• C. Separation of powers.
• D. Checks and balances.

Answer: (D)

Checks and balances prevent any one branch from controlling the government unchecked. The idea is to pair the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches so that each can limit the others and require cooperation to carry out actions. For example, the legislative branch writes laws, but the president can veto those laws, and Congress can override a veto with enough votes. The president appoints judges, but the Senate must confirm those appointments, and the courts can review laws and executive actions to ensure they align with the Constitution. If a branch tries to overstep, the others have mechanisms to push back, keeping power from concentrating in one place and protecting the system from tyranny. Separation of powers describes how power is divided, and federalism concerns the distribution between national and state governments, while judicial supremacy is not the mechanism that prevents power from concentrating across the branches.