“Some sort of checks-and-balances should have been built into the process.”
The founders did build in the checks and balances.
We have the right to vote for people we trust to do right, and the right to vote out of office people that do wrong.
And the power to impeach.
You’re right about impeachment being a check on presidential power. But it’s of no use when a president starts issuing repulsive pardons near the end of his term.
Heck, Biden could have gone completely nuts and pardoned every last person in federal prisons. Nothing could have stopped him.
The Founders missed something here. If I ever invent a Time Machine I’ll be mentioning that to Ben Franklin and the boys.