Which political system allows one branch to veto or amend the actions of another to prevent any branch from having too much power?

• A. Separation of Powers
• B. Judicial Review
• C. Checks and Balances
• D. Federalism

Answer: (C)

Checks and balances is a system where each branch can limit the others to prevent any one branch from getting too powerful. This setup lets actions by one branch be vetoed, amended, or checked by another, keeping power distributed and preventing overreach. For example, the executive can veto legislation, the legislative branch can override a veto with enough votes, and the judiciary can interpret laws and strike down actions that violate the Constitution. This combination of limits helps maintain a balanced government.

Separating powers describes dividing government into three branches, which is the foundation for this balance but doesn’t by itself describe how the branches restrain each other. Judicial review is a specific check exercised by courts to evaluate laws or actions, but it’s one tool within the broader system of checks and balances. Federalism deals with how power is shared between national and state governments, not with inter-branch restraints.