Three chefs, no dictator
One chef controlling the whole kitchen can ruin dinner unchecked; split the roles — one cooks, one plates, one inspects — and no single person can spoil it. Splitting government into branches works the same way, so no one branch grabs all the power.
No single branch holds all the power
Many governments split power into three branches: the legislative makes laws, the executive carries them out, and the judicial interprets them. This separation of powers stops any one branch from dominating. Checks and balances let each branch limit the others — for example, a court can strike down a law, and a legislature can override or impeach.
- Legislative: writes and passes laws.
- Executive: enforces laws and runs the government day to day.
- Judicial: interprets laws and settles disputes.
Lab · Match the check
- A legislature passes a law it believes is fair.
- A court rules the law violates the constitution.
- Which branch just checked which, and how?
What you should see: The judicial branch checked the legislative by striking down an unconstitutional law — one branch limiting another.