checks and balances

checks and balances, principle of government under which separate branches are empowered to prevent actions by other branches and are induced to share power. Checks and balances are applied primarily in constitutional governments. They are of fundamental importance in tripartite governments, such as that of the United States, which separate powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Greek historian Polybius analyzed the ancient Roman mixed constitution under three main divisions: monarchy (represented by the...