What is the primary purpose of the system of checks and balances?

The primary purpose of the system of checks and balances is to ensure that no one branch of government becomes too powerful, which is fundamental to maintaining a balanced and equitable government. This system is built into the structure of the U.S. Constitution, where the three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—have specific powers and responsibilities designed to oversee and limit each other. For example, the legislative branch can create laws, but the executive branch has the power to veto them, while the judicial branch can review the constitutionality of those laws. This interdependence prevents any single branch from dominating the government, promoting a balance of power that protects individual liberties and maintains democratic governance.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the primary function of checks and balances. Enforcing laws, for instance, is a role primarily associated with the executive branch, and this option does not address the foundational purpose of inter-branch regulation. Similarly, eliminating amendments does not pertain to checks and balances, as amendments are a means of evolving the Constitution itself rather than a function of regulating power among branches. Lastly, limiting state powers relates more to federalism and the relationship between state and federal governments rather than the internal checks between the branches of the federal government.