Which principle protects against the concentration of power by dividing government into branches?

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

Answer: (C)

Separating government into branches is the idea of separation of powers. The goal is to prevent the concentration of power by dividing responsibilities among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Each branch has its own distinct role and is allowed to check and balance the others, so no single part of government can dominate. For example, laws are made by the legislative branch, enforced by the executive branch, and interpreted by the judicial branch. This division helps protect liberty by requiring cooperation and oversight among branches. The other terms cover different concepts: federalism deals with power between national and state governments; popular sovereignty means the people have ultimate authority; judicial activism is about how judges interpret laws, not how government power is distributed.