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The United States Government was created with the intention of drawing the democratic prospects of Great Britain as well as older civilizations such as Ancient Greece and Rome, while ensuring that they would not create a autocracy with one person gaining too much power. This came in the form of checks and balances, as well as a intricate system that allowed for the replacement of an official if need be.
The checks and balances may sound complicated at first, but it is really simple to remember what each and every branch's basic tasks are.
The first to start with is the legislative branch. The legislative branch is broken down into 2 houses, in which the senate is comprised of 2 senators from each state, allowing for 100 in the current time period. The house of representatives, on the other hand, is made up based on a total amount of people residing legally within a state. The total number of representatives in the house is 435 in all, and are proportionized based on population levels. However, it is important to note that each state has at least 1 representative, regardless if their state population level is too low to count. The main role of the legislative branch is to create laws for the people. Each is first pushed out as a proposition, and is voted on. Both houses would introduce a like bill, titled either H.R. or senate bill. If passed, the bill is then transferred to the Executive Power for either a pass, or a veto. If vetoed, both houses get another chance to pass the bill. If successful, the bill becomes law.
The second branch is the executive branch. The executive branch is comprised of the President and his office staff. The President is voted by the Electoral College, a system that gives electorates to states based on current population sizes. The President is essentially the face of the nation, and has been consistently gaining power throughout the years. In the birth of the nation, the President was actually not given much power. However, with the introduction of executive power, the executive branch has grown to become the strongest one. Some powers include the ability to suspend habeas corpus (Security of jury and fair trial, Abraham Lincoln) during war time, send troops without declaration of war (War Powers Resolution, Richard Nixon), and many others. There are, however, many different ways that the power of the executive branch can be reigned in. The most well-known example, especially in today's time, is the impeach, which is given to congress as a check against the president. If the president fails to do his job, or is found to be unfit or a traitor, then the congress can impeach the president. On the other hand, if the president breaks the Constitution or Bill of Rights, the Judicial Branch can rule that the president's actions are voided, and consequences sent out.
The third branch is one that rose to power significantly in the years after the Washington Administration. The Judicial Branch, in the beginning was of the least importance to the nation. It merely interpreted laws as needed. However, the Judicial Branch soon rose to prominence, and is one of the strongest branches today. Not only are they able to interpret federal laws when needed, but it can also settle legal disputes, void state and local laws if deemed unconstitutional, and act as a check on the executive and legislative branch. The term of life (or until unfit) also means that one party can continue to dominate and impede other party's legislative and executive rulings.
To answer your question, one branch of government cannot have more power than the other, as to ensure that again, one person or a group does not gain too much power, and that the country does not change from a republic, in which much voices are heard, to a autocracy, where only one is.
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