What is the purpose of a system of checks and balances within the government?

The purpose of a system of checks and balances within the government is fundamentally to allow each branch to limit the powers of the other branches. This structure is rooted in the principle of separation of powers, which is designed to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful or overstepping its authority.

By giving each branch—executive, legislative, and judicial—the ability to check the actions of the others, the framers of the Constitution aimed to create a government that operates with mutual oversight. For instance, Congress has the power to make laws, but the President can veto legislation, and the courts can review the constitutionality of laws. Such interactions help ensure that power remains balanced and that no branch can dominate the governance of the country.

The other choices do not align with the fundamental principle of checks and balances. Enhancing the powers of one branch, centralizing authority in the executive branch, or eliminating the judicial branch entirely would undermine the intent of preventing tyranny and fostering cooperation among the branches of government.