Which is an example of a check and balance?

• A. The President vetoes a bill; Congress can override with two-thirds vote
• B. The President appoints a judge
• C. Congress negotiates treaties
• D. The Supreme Court appoints the President

Answer: (A)

Checks and balances means each branch has a way to limit the others, so no one part of government can push through its will without others agreeing. In this example, the President can veto a bill, stopping it from becoming law, which is the President checking Congress. Congress can respond by overriding that veto with a two-thirds vote, which forces the President to accept the legislation anyway. That two-thirds requirement ensures broad support across different parts of Congress and prevents a veto from easily defeating laws.

Other options involve powers that show how branches interact, but they don’t illustrate the veto–override mechanism in action. For instance, appointing a judge is a presidential power that becomes checked when the Senate confirms the appointment, and treaty-making involves both the President and Senate with ratification as the limiting step. The idea that the Supreme Court appoints the President is not accurate.