GED Social Studies TestCivics and GovernmentEasy
A newly naturalized citizen is studying the structure of the U.S. government. They learn that the legislative branch is responsible for creating laws, the executive branch for enforcing them, and the judicial branch for interpreting them. This division of governmental authority into distinct branches is known as:
- AFederalism
- BChecks and Balances
- CSeparation of Powers
- DPopular Sovereignty
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Separation of Powers
The division of governmental authority into distinct legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each with its own specific responsibilities, is the definition of the separation of powers. This prevents the concentration of power in any single entity.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Federalism refers to the division of power between the national government and state governments, not within the national government itself.
- B. Checks and Balances are mechanisms by which each branch can limit the powers of the others, building upon the separation of powers but distinct from it.
- D. Popular Sovereignty is the principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, not its structural division.
Separation of Powers
The division of governmental authority into distinct branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—each with specific responsibilities, to prevent the concentration of power.
- Inspired by Montesquieu.
- Legislative branch makes laws.
- Executive branch enforces laws.
- Judicial branch interprets laws.
- Aims to prevent tyranny.
Memory trick: Separate powers prevent one branch from being too powerful.