What does the Separation of Powers principle establish?

The principle of Separation of Powers establishes the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches, which is fundamental to the structure of the U.S. government. This framework is designed to ensure that no single branch—executive, legislative, or judicial—holds too much power, thereby providing a system of checks and balances. By distributing authority among these branches, each can operate independently while still holding the others accountable, preventing any one branch from exceeding its authority or infringing on the rights of citizens.

In this system, the legislative branch is responsible for making laws, the executive branch for enforcing them, and the judicial branch for interpreting them. This division allows for a more balanced and fair governance structure, fostering accountability and protecting individual liberties by minimizing the risk of abuse of power.