The separation of powers, often imprecisely used interchangeably with the trias politica principle, is a model for the governance of a state (or who controls the state). The model was first developed in the Roman Republic as part of the unmodified Constitution of the Roman Republic. Under this model, the state is divided into branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that no branch has more power than the other branches. The normal division of branches is into a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary.
Read more about Separation Of Powers: Montesquieu's Tripartite System, Comparison Between Presidential and Parliamentary Systems, Various Models
Famous quotes containing the words separation of, separation and/or powers:
“There is nothing that I shudder at more than the idea of a separation of the Union. Should such an event ever happen, which I fervently pray God to avert, from that date I view our liberty gone.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“On a subconscious level your child experiences separation from you as a “punishment.” And if he is to be “rewarded” with your return, he must be very good.... Eager for you to come back, your finicky son would probably eat liver if your baby-sitter served it, and he wouldn’t dream of resisting her at bathtime.”
—Cathy Rindner Tempelsman (20th century)
“And as the sun above the light doth bring,
Though we behold it in the air below,
So from th’ eternal Light the soul doth spring,
Though in the body she her powers do show.”
—Sir John Davies (1569–1626)