Ohio Government/Constitution Practice Exam

The principle that ensures the powers of government are divided among different branches is known as Separation of Powers. This concept is fundamental to the structure of government in many democratic systems, including that of the United States and Ohio. It divides government responsibilities into distinct branches—typically the legislative, executive, and judicial branches—each with its powers and responsibilities.

This division is intended to prevent any one branch from accumulating too much power and to create a system of checks and balances, where each branch can oversee and limit the powers of the others. For example, the legislative branch creates laws, the executive branch enforces them, and the judicial branch interprets them. This system fosters accountability and protects against tyranny by ensuring that power is not centralized.

While checks and balances are an important feature that operates within the framework of separated powers, the essence of this principle is the actual division of roles and responsibilities across different branches. Understanding how the separation of powers functions helps citizens grasp the foundations of their government and the importance of distinct branches in maintaining democracy. Other options describe different concepts; for instance, federalism refers to the distribution of power between national and state governments, and popular sovereignty pertains to the authority of the government being derived from the consent of the governed.