Question

which of the following is an example of checks and balances?
a an unpopular supreme court ruling can be overturned by a majority vote of both houses of congress.
b a rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the supreme court.
c a filibuster in the senate can be ended with a cloture motion that has the support of 60 senators.
d a treaty negotiated by the president with a foreign government must be approved by a majority vote of the house.

Explanation:

Checks and balances refers to the system where each branch of government can limit the powers of the other branches.

• Option A is incorrect because Congress cannot overturn a Supreme Court ruling; only the Court can reverse its own decisions or a constitutional amendment can change it.
• Option B is correct: the judicial branch (Supreme Court) checks the executive branch's bureaucratic agencies by ruling their actions unconstitutional, which is a core example of checks and balances.
• Option C describes an internal Senate procedure, not a check between different government branches.
• Option D is incorrect because presidential treaties require approval by a two-thirds vote of the Senate, not a majority of the House.

Answer:

B. A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.