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Checks & Balances: Definition

Recently I was on another site reading a discussion of the constitution's system of checks and balances. I was astonished to find many comments that showed a complete misunderstanding of the meaning of checks & balances. I blame lack of education. Also, the Trump administration wants to install Trump as dictator, so his followers reject the constitution and limits on presidential power.

So here is a definition from Websters Dictionary:
"a system that allows each branch of a government to amend, override, or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power or power beyond its authority"

Our founding fathers designed a system in the constitution where the three branches of government - legislative, executive, judicial - could each be checked by the other branches. This system has served our country very well for 250 years.

The story is the founding fathers got the idea from a native American tribe. This tribe had three chiefs. All three had to agree on major decisions for the tribe. That way no one man was allowed to have dictatorial powers over the tribe.

We the People must demand congress follow the constitution and vigorously enforce checks and balances. And any U.S. government that ignores the constitution is not legitimate and must be overthrown.

NO DICTATORS ALLOWED IN AMERICA!
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MarineBob · 56-60, M
Congress borrows money to give to other countries
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
@MarineBob What does that have to do with checks & balances?
joe438 · 61-69, M
@MarineBob you’d think in a country with checks and balances theyd be denied the ability to do that, but previous administrations didn’t care about reckless overspending.
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
@joe438 In our system If the president proposes an action and congress agrees then it happens. If congress fights the president on it then it doesn't happen.
If you don't like the way the president or congress acted then you vote against them in the next election.
badminton · 61-69, MVIP
@joe438 The U.S. recklessly overspent in Afghanistan for 20 years. We wasted over $3 TRILLION on that debacle. Only corrupt defense contractors benefited. I want congress to vote for domestic improvements; I want my taxes spent on universal non-profit healthcare, public transit, free/ very low cost college for our young people, affordable housing - Things that benefit all the people. I want off-shore tax havens for the wealthy and corporations totally banned. Taxes for human needs- not bail-outs for corporations.
joe438 · 61-69, M
@badminton both sides will overspend if the president approves it. No one has a spine.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@MarineBob To a certain extent thats true. Its the choice of countries they give it to and what those countries spend it on and give back that is questionable.😷