AP US Government

Answer: B - The relationship between separation of powers and checks and balances is that the concept of checks and balances is technically a violation of the concept of separation of powers. Separation of powers is when a certain function of government is handled exclusively by one branch and the other branches can’t touch it. So, for example, all law-making power would be controlled by the legislature. Checks and balances, however, allows one branch to “reach over” and mess with the other branch’s area so that it can’t become too powerful. For example, when the president vetoes a law, someone in the executive branch is messing with the law-making powers of the legislative branch. That “check” violates the separation of powers because the president has a legislative power that should belong to Congress.