What best describes the concept of checks and balances?

The concept of checks and balances is foundational to the structure of the U.S. government, designed to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. It is based on the principle that the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government each have separate but overlapping powers that allow them to monitor and limit each other’s authority.

When one branch of government takes action, the other branches have the ability to review, modify, or block that action. For example, the President can veto legislation passed by Congress, Congress can override that veto with a supermajority, and the Supreme Court can rule that a law is unconstitutional. This mutual oversight ensures a balance of power, fostering cooperation and preventing abuse of authority.

Other options describe situations contrary to this principle. Concentrating power in one branch undermines the very purpose of checks and balances. Granting a single branch the exclusive authority to draft laws fails to represent the collaborative process essential in a functioning democracy. Lastly, if all branches worked independently without interference, it would lead to a fragmentation of government authority that could hinder effective governance and accountability.