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

Those processes include checks and balances and separation of powers relied upon in this Supreme Court decision that protected us from taxation without congressional representation. —Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026

On checks and balances, there's been a 12-point jump from a year ago in the percentage of those saying the system isn't working well. —Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 23 Feb. 2026

In the absence of a community process which provides emotional and psychological checks and balances, participants can carry distorted perceptions about themselves into the quotidian world. —Erica Rex, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026

But the secrecy at the college level keeps athletes from making informed decisions about their futures and means the more than $20 million the NCAA lets each school spend on athletes will go without any checks and balances, said Frank Heindel, who filed the suit. —ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for checks and balances

• counterbalances
• imbalances

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