The idea that a just and fair government must divide power between various branches did not originate at the Constitutional Convention, but has deep philosophic… See more

Building on the ideas of Polybius, Montesquieu, William Blackstone, John Locke and other philosophers and political scientists over the centuries, the framers of the U.S. Co… See more

Checks and balances operate throughout the U.S. government, as each branch exercises certain powers that can be checked by the powers given to the other two branch… See more

The system of checks and balances has been tested numerous times throughout the centuries since the Constitutionwas ratified. In particular, the power of the executive branch ha… See more

The checks and balances system withstood one of its greatest challenges in 1937, thanks to an audacious attempt by Franklin D. Roosevelt to pack the Supreme Courtwith li… See more