checks and balances

plural noun

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Definition of checks and balances

: 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 exerting too much power

Recent Examples of checks and balances from the Web

Critics say the new system undermines impartiality and could lead to one-man rule with limited checks and balances.

— zeynep bilginsoy, Fox News, "Erdogan inaugurates Turkey's powerful executive presidency," 10 July 2018
Critics say the new system undermines impartiality and could lead to one-man rule with limited checks and balances, especially with a weakened judiciary and parliament.

— zeynep bilginsoy, The Seattle Times, "Erdogan names Cabinet for Turkish presidency with new powers," 9 July 2018
Nicaragua ought to be a lesson for Guatemalans and the U.S. The checks and balances to contain Mr. Ortega were in place a decade ago.

— mary anastasia o’grady, WSJ, "Russia in Central America, Again," 8 July 2018
The changes include giving the executive and legislative branches greater control of the judiciary, which opponents say could weaken the democratic system of checks and balances.

— BostonGlobe.com, "EU panel question if Poland’s overhaul of justice system violates democratic standards," 26 June 2018
The changes include giving the executive and legislative branches greater control over the judiciary, which opponents say could weaken the democratic system of checks and balances.

— Washington Post, "EU ministers seek answers from Poland over justice policies," 26 June 2018
Indeed, 40 percent of voters in the poll said their 2018 vote in November would be a message that more Democrats are needed to check and balance Trump and congressional Republicans.

— NBC News, "Poll shows Democrats have midterm intensity advantage, but no 'knockout' yet," 15 Apr. 2018
Its candidate, Muharrem İnce, who ended up with 30.7% of the vote compared to Mr. Erdoğan’s 52.6%, had promised to bring back a system of checks and balances over presidential power....

— monitor editors, The Christian Science Monitor, "Troubled by the US Supreme Court’s upholding of Trump’s travel ban, Erdoğan’s reelection tilts toward authoritarianism, Why a stable Turkey is important, Ukraine has come a long way since Russia’s invasion, ‘Standard of living’ or ‘standard of life’?," 14 July 2018
However, activating the brain’s reward system unleashes chemical signals that thwart this web of checks and balances in a manner that disables these pro-tumor MDSCs.

— esther landhuis, Scientific American, "Could Brain Stimulation Slow Cancer?," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'checks and balances.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of checks and balances

1787

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

CHECKS AND BALANCES Defined for English Language Learners

checks and balances

noun

Definition of checks and balances for English Language Learners

: a system in which the different parts of an organization (such as a government) have powers that affect and control the other parts so that no part can become too powerful

Law Dictionary

checks and balances

noun plural checks and bal·anc·es \ -ˈba-lən-səz \

legal Definition of checks and balances

: 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