The term 'CHECKS AND BALANCES' is a phrase used to describe the system of government in the United States. It refers to the three branches of government - the executive, legislative, and judicial - and how they interact with each other to ensure that no one branch has too much power. The term comes from the idea that each branch 'checks' the power of the other two branches, while also providing 'balances' to ensure that all three branches are working together. The six-letter crossword solution for this term is CHECKS.