What term describes dividing government power among three branches with the ability to check each other's power?

What term describes dividing government power among three branches with the ability to check each other's power?

• A. Federalism
• B. Separation of powers
• C. Judicial review
• D. Popular sovereignty

Answer: (B)

Separating government power into three branches with built‑in checks and balances creates a system where no single part can dominate. Each branch—legislative, executive, and judicial—has distinct responsibilities, and they stand in a position to constrain one another. For example, laws are made by the legislature, but the executive can veto them, and the legislature can override that veto. Courts can review laws and actions to decide if they’re constitutional. This interplay keeps power distributed and prevents tyranny. This idea comes from the aim of preventing concentrated authority by dividing functions and giving each branch some oversight over the others, with mechanisms like vetoes, confirmations, impeachment, and judicial review that allow cooperation and restraint across branches. Other terms describe different arrangements: federalism concerns power between national and state governments, judicial review is a specific tool within the judiciary, and popular sovereignty is about the people as the ultimate source of authority. The concept described here is separation of powers with checks and balances.

Separating government power into three branches with built‑in checks and balances creates a system where no single part can dominate. Each branch—legislative, executive, and judicial—has distinct responsibilities, and they stand in a position to constrain one another. For example, laws are made by the legislature, but the executive can veto them, and the legislature can override that veto. Courts can review laws and actions to decide if they’re constitutional. This interplay keeps power distributed and prevents tyranny.

This idea comes from the aim of preventing concentrated authority by dividing functions and giving each branch some oversight over the others, with mechanisms like vetoes, confirmations, impeachment, and judicial review that allow cooperation and restraint across branches. Other terms describe different arrangements: federalism concerns power between national and state governments, judicial review is a specific tool within the judiciary, and popular sovereignty is about the people as the ultimate source of authority. The concept described here is separation of powers with checks and balances.