Which term describes the system that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

The system that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful is known as checks and balances. This principle, embedded in the U.S. Constitution, ensures that the legislative, executive, and judicial branches have distinct powers and responsibilities, and, crucially, the ability to monitor and restrain each other's authority. For instance, while Congress can make laws, the President has the power to veto those laws, and the courts can interpret them. This interplay maintains a balance of power and prevents tyranny by ensuring that no single branch can dominate the government.

Federalism, while also a relevant concept, refers to the distribution of power between the national and state governments, rather than the internal controls within the branches of government. Dominion pertains more to authority or control but does not specifically relate to the structure of the government. Republicanism is a political ideology emphasizing the role of the citizens and the representation of their interests, but it does not directly address the checks on governmental power structure like checks and balances does.