Which term describes the principle of dividing government powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent concentration of power?

• A. Rule
• B. Senate
• C. Secondary sources
• D. Separation of Powers

Answer: (D)

Dividing government powers across separate branches is about preventing one part of government from gaining too much control. This arrangement, called separation of powers, assigns distinct duties to each branch: the legislature makes laws, the executive carries them out, and the judiciary interprets and applies them. By having these branches operate independently and with checks on each other, no single group can dominate. For example, laws can be passed by the legislature, but the president can veto, and the courts can review laws to ensure they’re constitutional. This structural design—three branches with mutual oversight—embodies the idea of separation of powers. The other terms don’t fit: a rule is just a general guideline, the Senate is only one part of the legislature, and secondary sources are about analyzing past events, not describing how government is organized to limit power.