checks and balances

noun

plural in form but sometimes singular in construction
: a system that allows each branch of a government to amend, override, or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power or power beyond its authority
Things that for many decades were givens—the checks and balances on the executive, the role of the judiciary or the civil service, a media free from interference or vilification—now appear vulnerable.Emily Maitlis
"I do think that there is an expectation in our country that checks and balances is a good thing," [Senator John] Thune said …Stephen Groves
broadly : a system in which power and control is distributed and counterbalanced (as to prevent unethical or harmful actions)
Founders [of startup businesses] benefit from checks and balances. … It makes the company more trustworthy, easier to finance, and less likely to implode. For those same reasons, checks and balances help employees. Noam Wasserman

Examples of checks and balances in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Coming battle over checks and balances Over the coming months, federal courts could hear lawsuits regarding the president’s ability to interfere with congressional appropriations, restructure federal agencies, or fire or buy out certain federal employees. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2025 Cramer praised the government’s system of checks and balances. Julie Coleman, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025 Additionally, Congress can introduce checks and balances on the president’s pardon power, such as requiring Senate approval for certain pardons. Steven Delco, Hartford Courant, 2 Feb. 2025 There are countless definitions of democracy, but virtually all Americans agree on several core criteria: free and fair elections, checks and balances, peaceful transfers of power, free speech. Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for checks and balances 

Word History

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of checks and balances was in 1777

Dictionary Entries Near checks and balances

Cite this Entry

“Checks and balances.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/checks%20and%20balances. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

checks and balances

plural noun
: a system that allows each branch of a government to amend or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch from having too much power

Legal Definition

checks and balances

noun plural
checks and bal·​anc·​es
-ˈba-lən-səz
: the powers (as judicial review, the presidential veto, and the congressional override) conferred on each of the three branches of government by which each restrains the others from exerting too much power see also separation of powers

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