What prevents one branch of the U.S. government from becoming too powerful?

The concept that prevents one branch of the U.S. government from becoming too powerful is the system of checks and balances. This framework is foundational to the U.S. Constitution and is designed to ensure that the three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial—can each limit the powers of the others.

For example, while the legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch is responsible for enforcing those laws, and the judicial branch interprets them. If one branch tries to overstep its authority, the other branches have the power to check that action and maintain a balance of power. This mutual regulation ensures that no single branch can dominate the government, thereby protecting democracy and preventing tyranny.

The other choices, while important in their own right, do not serve this specific purpose. Amendments can change the Constitution and impact government functions but do not directly create checks on power. Voting is a vital practice for democratic participation but does not address the balance of power among branches. Direct democracy involves the populace making decisions, but it does not inherently provide a framework for checking governmental power among different branches.