Checks and Balances
-
This video introduces the Magna Carta as the foundation of the rule of law, explaining how it established the principle that no one, not even a king, is above the law. It highlights key clauses, their historical context, and the enduring influence of the Magna Carta on modern legal systems and democratic protections.
-
This video explains how the Magna Carta established the foundational idea that even the king must obey the law, shaping principles of justice, rights, and limits on power that continue to influence modern legal systems. It highlights the document’s historical context, key clauses, and enduring legacy in protecting individual freedoms and upholding the rule of law.
-
This poster illustrates what can go wrong when checks and balances are absent, showing how unchecked power can lead to corruption, suppression of rights, excessive force, and the concentration of authority in a single branch of government.
Video: Checks and Balances on Government Power
What is an Australian citizen? Like all of their other fellow Australians, this individual holds some of the greatest and most empowering freedoms in the world, including the right to vote, freedom of expression and thought, freedom from arbitrary arrest, the right to a fair trial and the confidence to go about their life without improper influence – and the list goes on.
All Australians can enjoy these freedoms thanks to the strength of the nation’s rule of law and democracy which includes checks and balances on those in power to protect individual’s rights and liberties.
As French political thinker Montesquieu said in 1748:
‘constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it and carry his authority as far as it will go.’
Therefore, to stop those invested with power from abusing that power, checks and balances are put in place.
So what are checks and balances? How does the separation of powers work? How is the division of powers a check and balances? What are the roles of citizens?
The checks and balances we have now discussed do not guarantee a fair and democratic society but an important system to help us work towards one. With power comes responsibility, and the need for continual restraints and checks on power is essential.
Related Resources
-
This poster illustrates what can go wrong when checks and balances are absent, showing how unchecked power can lead to corruption, suppression of rights, excessive force, and the concentration of authority in a single branch of government.
-
This explainer outlines the importance of an independent judiciary, showing how courts must be free from political pressure, external influence, and improper interference. It highlights how judicial independence protects individual rights, supports impartial decision‑making, and maintains public confidence in a justice system governed by law rather than power.
-
This explainer outlines why structural safeguards like the separation of powers can provide stronger and more consistent protection for rights than a standalone bill of rights. It examines how independent courts and constitutional limits on power help prevent government overreach and uphold the rule of law.
Explore Related Topics
-
The Separation of Powers
Explore resources on the separation of powers, explaining how separating power maintains checks on government through independent institutions, defined functions and accountability.
-
Open and Free Criticism
Explore resources on open and free criticism of law & government, showing how scrutiny of institutions strengthens accountability and supports a rule‑of‑law culture.
-
Independent and Impartial Judiciary
Explore resources on an open, independent and impartial judiciary, including the history of the Supreme Court and its role in delivering fair justice with transparency, and accountability.