The division of powers between three branches of government is called?

• A. Separation of Powers
• B. Checks + Balances
• C. Federalism
• D. Judicial Review

Answer: (A)

The division of government powers among three branches is called separation of powers. This setup assigns different duties to each branch so no single group holds all the authority: one branch makes laws, another enforces them, and a third interprets laws in the courts. Keeping these roles separate helps prevent the abuse of power and allows each branch to develop expertise, while checks and balances provide ways for the branches to limit each other when needed. Related ideas include checks and balances (the system that restrains power), federalism (power shared between national and state governments), and judicial review (the courts’ power to declare laws or actions unconstitutional), but they describe different concepts than the basic division of powers.