What is the purpose of checks and balances in government?

The purpose of checks and balances in government is fundamentally to ensure that no single branch of government—executive, legislative, or judicial—becomes too powerful or operates beyond its intended authority. This system is designed to create a separation of powers, where each branch has specific responsibilities and can limit the powers of the others. For instance, the legislative branch can create laws, but the executive branch has the power to veto them, and the judicial branch can rule laws unconstitutional. This interplay ensures that power remains balanced and that each branch can prevent abuses or overreach by the others, thus safeguarding democratic principles and protecting individual rights.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of checks and balances. Promoting economic growth and stability pertains more to fiscal policy and economic strategies rather than the structure of government. Enforcing laws uniformly across states relates to federalism and the relationship between state and federal law, rather than checks and balances. Establishing a monarchy is contrary to the principles of checks and balances, which oppose concentrated power in one individual or entity.