What system prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

The correct answer is checks and balances because this system is specifically designed to ensure that no single branch of government—executive, legislative, or judicial—can dominate or exert excessive power over the others. Each branch has specific powers and the ability to monitor and limit the actions of the others. For instance, while the legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch has the power to veto those laws, and the judiciary can declare laws unconstitutional. This dynamic interaction creates a balance of power that protects against potential abuse and maintains a healthy government structure.

The other choices, while related to government structure, do not specifically focus on the mechanisms that prevent power concentration. Separation of powers refers to the distribution of government responsibilities among different branches but doesn’t inherently include the checks implemented to limit their power over one another. Federalism relates to the division of power between national and state governments, while judicial review is the power of the courts to assess the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions, and is just one component of the broader system of checks and balances.