What prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

The concept of checks and balances is integral to the structure of the U.S. government and serves to prevent any one branch (executive, legislative, or judicial) from gaining excessive power. Each branch has specific powers and responsibilities, and the ability to limit or oversee the actions of the other branches. For example, the legislative branch can create laws, but the executive branch has the power to veto those laws. Meanwhile, the judicial branch can review laws and declare them unconstitutional, effectively preventing both the legislative and executive branches from overstepping their authority.

This system ensures that power is distributed and that no single branch can dominate the governance of the country. By having these built-in limitations and mutual oversight, the founders aimed to protect against tyranny and encourage cooperation, forcing the branches to work together to achieve governance that reflects the will of the people.

Other choices, such as majority rule and public opinion, relate to democratic processes and influence governance through the electorate, but they do not provide the structural safeguards that checks and balances offer. The electoral college pertains specifically to the process of electing the President and does not function as a mechanism for general power distribution amongst branches of government.