Answer: D, The idea that each of the three branches of government can limit the exercise of power by the other 2 branches.
Explanation: Each branch of the Federal Government has the power to “check” on each other. This idea was very important to the founders because they wanted to ensure that no branch got to powerful so that the federal government would not become tyrant and abusive. For example, the U.S. Congress, which is the Legislative Branch, has the power to override a Presidential Veto from the Executive Branch and can also impeach a President or any officeholder (Judicial Branch too), so that is how they typically exercise their check. The Executive Branch’s President can veto a law passed by Congress and bypass them in certain cases with an Executive Order. The President can also check on the Judicial Branch by appointing judges that he likes or refusing to appoint ones that the judiciary’s members may like. That is how the Executive Branch exercises its check. Finally, the Judicial Branch can check both the Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch by striking down a law that they pass or by blocking a President’s Executive Order. The Checks & Balances concept is a key process to our government because, if it works correctly, it prevents one branch from becoming too powerful.
