What is the term for the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government?

The term that describes the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government is "Separation of Powers." This principle is fundamental to the structure of the U.S. Constitution and is intended to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Each branch has its own distinct responsibilities and functions: the legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch enforces them, and the judicial branch interprets the laws. This separation ensures a system of governance where powers are distributed, promoting accountability and protecting individual rights by creating a system of checks and balances among the branches. This foundational concept helps to maintain the rule of law and democratic principles in the government.

The other options, while related to governance, do not specifically refer to this distribution of powers among branches. Checks and balances, for example, refers to the mechanisms that allow each branch to oversee the others, ensuring they do not exceed their authority, but it does not describe the division itself. Federalism pertains to the distribution of power between national and state governments, and limited government refers to a political system where the government's powers are restricted by law, often through a constitution.