English Lexicon

Separation-of-Powers

/ˌsɛpəˈreɪʃən əv ˈpaʊərz/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #15000 frequency
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2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A doctrine in political theory that divides the responsibilities of government into separate branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

    "The separation of powers is a fundamental principle in the Constitution that ensures a system of checks and balances."
  2. 2

    The allocation of governmental powers among different branches, typically the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

    "In many democracies, the separation of powers is essential for maintaining the rule of law."

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Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'separation of powers' originates from the French phrase 'séparation des pouvoirs', which was popularized in the 18th century by political philosophers like Montesquieu. It refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

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