Checks and balances are a fundamental element of constitutional democracy that prevent the unconstrained exercise of power, improve the quality of decision-making, and ensure that mechanisms exist for distributing power throughout a political system. The term refers to the separation of power to avoid one entity or body wielding too much power. The Constitution divided the U.S. government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, and this was an important decision because it created a separation of powers. The ability of each branch to respond to the actions of the other branches is the system of checks and balances. Here are some examples of how the different branches work together:

• The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto.
• The legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional.
• The judicial branch interprets laws, but the President nominates Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges, and district court judges who make the evaluations.
• The judicial branch interprets laws, but the Senate in the legislative branch confirms the President’s nominations for judicial positions, and Congress can impeach any of those judges and remove them from office.

Checks and balances are important in businesses and other organizations where one individual can make decisions that affect operations. Checks and balances can cost more money and decrease efficiency but can be critical in helping to identify internal and external theft. The framers of the U.S. Constitution saw checks and balances as essential for the security of liberty under the Constitution. Checks and balances play two key roles. First, they limit the power of the majority to act without regard to the views or interests of others. Second, they ensure that a wide variety of views and interests are represented in the democratic process.