Understanding Checks and Balances

By Douglas V. Gibbs

If the Congress feels the president is acting unconstitutional, they can defund it. If the courts feel the federal government is acting unconstitutionally, they can issue an opinion indicating such, and expect the other two branches to take that opinion into serious consideration. If the court's opinion is not followed, and the court is correct in its assessment, then the States can nullify it.

Prior to the 17th Amendment another check was in place because the House was the voice of the people and the Senate was the voice of the states. In that way, the two houses of Congress checked each other (people checked the states, and the states checked the people) and together with their ability to override a veto they checked the executive branch - and with the power of impeachment they check both executive and judicial branches.

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