What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Explanation

Checks and balances, part of the separation of powers, let each branch limit the others.

Why it matters

For example, the President can veto a law, Congress can override the veto, and courts can strike it down - no branch acts alone.

The 65/20 special consideration

Question 14 is not in the 65/20 set. An applicant who is 65 or older and has been a lawful permanent resident for 20 years or more studies only the 20 marked questions, so this one would not be asked. Everyone else studies all 100.

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Answers that get mixed up with this one

These are the wrong options the practice test puts beside this question. Each one is the correct answer to a different question, which is what makes it tempting.

• the Vice Presidentanswers Question 30: If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
• reviews lawsanswers Question 37: What does the judicial branch do?
• Republican Partyanswers Question 46: What is the political party of the President now?

More System of Government questions

Questions the officer draws from the same part of the test. Studying them together is what keeps their answers apart.

• Question 13: Name one branch or part of the government.Congress · legislative · President · executive · the courts · judicial
• Question 15: Who is in charge of the executive branch?the President
• Question 16: Who makes federal laws?Congress · Senate and House (of Representatives) · (U.S. or national) legislature
• Question 17: What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?the Senate and House (of Representatives)
• Question 18: How many U.S. Senators are there?one hundred (100)