An interest group tracks the poor performance of an executive branch agency and reports this information to lawmakers. this is an informal example of which part of the political system?
political parties
constitutional amendment
checks and balances
electoral process

checks and balances

Explanation:

The authors of the U.S. Constitution created a system based on the ideas of  Polybius, Montesquieu, William Blackstone, and John Locke.

The system of checks and balances is part of the division of power between the three branches of the U.S. government (legislative, executive, judicial). Several controls and limitations were established on each branch to assure that neither would grab too much power.

other sources of text

explanation:

this can be magazines, news reports, scholarly articles, textbooks, research papers etc.

b) race riots in several cities