system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How can politicians make promises and not be held accountable?
gpt
Under the law, at least in the United States, you have no liability for a "promise" except in certain specific circumstances.  Thus, you can't just sue a politician for breaking a promise. 

But, that doesn't mean they're not held accountable.  The way we hold politicians accountable is through the vote. If a politician breaks a promise, the accountability doesn't come through the courts, it comes through the ballot box (either directly, if they lose re-election, or indirectly, if their party or allies suffer.)