Perhaps the first time you heard the phrase “checks and balances” was in middle school civics class. Not surprising, since it’s a cornerstone of American democracy. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of government act as counterweights to each other, so that no single branch dominates.
That’s true at the federal level — and in every state.
This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on a case that challenges the notion of checks and balances, and in so doing, could upend America’s democratic framework for holding elections. Depending on the scope and reach of the court’s decision, it could have crucial ramifications for upcoming contests, perhaps even the presidential race in 2024.
