A thread through the archive

checks and balances

Essays tagged “checks and balances”. Follow an idea across the archive.

Essays on checks and balances

2 essays

Sep 18, 2025ACX

Defining Defending Democracy: Contra The Election Winner Argument

Scott explains why true democracy requires more than just winning elections - it needs a complex system of checks and balances to ensure future elections remain fair and free.

10 min read 1,403 words

Jun 17, 2020SSC

Slightly Skew Systems Of Government

Scott Alexander describes three fictional and slightly absurd systems of government: an acausal democracy, a constitutional mobocracy, and a meta-republic with representatives from various governing philosophies.

9 min read 1,369 words

checks and balances creative writing democracy