What Are Checks and Balances?

Worksheet Description

Imagine you and your friends are playing a game together. To make sure the game is fun and fair, you need to make sure no one has too much power. That’s what the U.S. government does with something called “checks and balances.” It’s like a set of rules to keep everything fair and make sure no one group, or person has too much control.

In the United States, the government is divided into three superhero teams, just like we talked about before: the Lawmakers, the Enforcers, and the Judges. These teams have different jobs, but they also keep an eye on each other.

The Lawmakers are the team that makes the rules, like laws. They meet in a place called Congress and come up with ideas for new laws. But, they can’t just make a law on their own. The President, who leads the Enforcers, has to agree to it. If the President doesn’t like the law, they can say, “No,” or veto it. So, the Lawmakers need the Enforcers’ approval.

The Enforcers, led by the President, make sure the laws are followed. They can also suggest new laws, but they need the Lawmakers to approve them first. If the Lawmakers think the President is doing something wrong, they can investigate and even impeach the President (remove them from office). This way, the Lawmakers check the Enforcers.