How did the American Constitution address concerns about tyranny?

• A. By abolishing all forms of government
• B. By centralizing power in the executive
• C. By creating checks and balances, a federal system, and a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties
• D. By eliminating the state governments

Answer: (C)

The Constitution tackles fears of tyranny by distributing power and setting limits that keep any one part of government from dominating. First, checks and balances spread authority across separate branches so each can restrain the others; for example, the President can veto legislation, and Congress can override that veto or impeach, while courts can review laws for constitutionality. This mutual oversight makes arbitrary rule much harder. Second, federalism divides power between a national government and the states, preventing a single central authority from holding all control and letting states serve as laboratories and barriers to centralized domination. Third, the Bill of Rights protects essential liberties, constraining government action and ensuring basic rights remain protected regardless of political pressure. Together, these elements create a structure that promotes accountability, limits power, and guards individual freedoms.

Abolishing all forms of government, centralizing power in the executive, or eliminating state governments would undermine these protections and fail to address the concern about tyranny.