What mechanism ensures that no single branch of government becomes too powerful?

The mechanism that ensures no single branch of government becomes too powerful is checks and balances. This system is fundamental to the structure of the U.S. government, where the powers of the three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—are defined and energized in such a way that they can each limit the powers of the others.

By design, each branch has specific powers and responsibilities, but there are also mechanisms in place that allow each branch to oversee and regulate the actions of the others. For example, while Congress (the legislative branch) has the power to create laws, the President (the executive branch) can veto legislation, and the courts (the judicial branch) can rule laws unconstitutional. This reciprocal system prevents any one branch from overstepping its authority or becoming too dominant.

Direct democracy refers to a system where citizens vote directly on legislative decisions, which does not inherently provide checks on government power. Judicial review allows courts to evaluate laws for their constitutionality, but it is one component of checks and balances rather than a standalone mechanism. Majority rule is a principle viewed in the context of decision-making in a democracy, which does not inherently ensure a balance among government branches. Thus, checks and balances is the most appropriate answer to the question posed