What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

• A. Veto power
• B. Judicial review
• C. Federalism
• D. Checks and balances and the separation of powers

Answer: (D)

Power is kept in check by dividing government duties and giving each branch ways to limit the others. That setup, the separation of powers, means Congress makes laws, the president enforces them, and the courts interpret them. But it isn’t just that division that stops any one branch from getting too strong—it's the system of checks and balances woven through those powers. Each branch has tools to restrain the others: the president can veto laws, Congress can override a veto or approve appointments and impeach, and the courts can strike down laws or actions that violate the Constitution. This interlocking framework keeps power from concentrating in one place and requires collaboration and oversight among the branches.

Veto power and judicial review are important pieces of this system, but they’re part of the broader checks-and-balances framework. Federalism, while about distributing power between national and state governments, doesn’t by itself prevent one branch from becoming too powerful within the national government.