What does the phrase "checks and balances" refer to?

The phrase "checks and balances" refers to a system designed to ensure that each branch of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—can limit the powers of the others. This structural framework is crucial in preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful and abusing its authority. By implementing checks and balances, the U.S. Constitution aims to create a balance of power, ensuring that each branch has specific abilities to monitor and restrict the functions of the others. This promotes accountability and upholds democratic principles, as it requires cooperation and compromise among branches.

The other choices do not accurately capture the essence of checks and balances; they refer instead to different aspects of governance. For instance, while funding methods or legislative processes play roles in government operation, they do not embody the fundamental principle of power limitation that checks and balances represent. Similarly, government transparency relates to openness and accountability but does not specifically describe the inter-branch relationships intended by checks and balances.