How efficiently do checks and balances work today?

Do checks and balances still exist in the U.S government and do they work?

• In brief the system of checks and balances was created so that the three branches of government: Legislative (makes Laws), Executive (enforces Laws) and Judicial (interprets laws) would not become too powerful. As the name implies each branch would check the other so that they are all balanced. Are the three branches checked and balanced? Or has the system failed or been abandoned? Or does it still work today? Is the Executive and Judicial branches keeping the legislative branch in check? Or is Congress a bunch of aristocrats who arbitrarily decide what they will allow the peasants (that would be the people or citizens) are allowed to do or have? Is the Legislative and Judicial branch keeping the Executive branch balanced? Is the police enforcing justice? Or are they just uniform bullies with billy clubs and pepper spray? Is the Executive and Legislative branches keeping tabs on the Judicial branch? Do judges judge base off of what is Constitutional or is it their own personal opinions that decide who rots in jail? To borrow and rephrase a quote from The Patriot "Have we traded one tyrant 3,000 miles for 3,000 tyrants one mile away?" I like to know what you think.

• Answer:

  Yep I have checks that need to be written and the balance said not now