What term describes the effort to maintain an equilibrium of power among the three branches of the U.S. government?

• A. Checks and Balances
• B. Separation of Powers
• C. Federalism
• D. Rule of Law

Answer: (A)

Balancing power among the three branches is achieved through checks and balances. This concept ensures that no single branch—legislative, executive, or judicial—can dominate by giving each branch ways to limit the others. For example, the president can veto laws, but Congress can override that veto; Senate approval confirms presidential appointments and ratifies treaties, giving the legislative branch influence over the executive; courts can review laws and actions to ensure they fit the Constitution; and impeachment provides a remedy if a branch overreaches. Separation of powers describes how duties are divided among the branches, but checks and balances is about the mechanisms that keep those powers in proper balance. Federalism deals with distributing power between national and state governments, and the Rule of Law means everyone, including government officials, must follow the law. So the term that describes maintaining equilibrium of power among the three branches is checks and balances.