Separation of powers refers to the division of governmental authority among three branches - legislative, executive, and judicial - to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. This concept is outlined in the U.S. Constitution, where each branch has distinct powers and responsibilities. For instance, the legislative branch enacts laws, the executive branch implements and enforces laws, and the judiciary interprets laws.
On the other hand, checks and balances refers to the system in which each branch has the ability to limit or influence the actions of the other branches. This ensures that no single branch can dominate or abuse its power. A concrete example is the veto power of the President, where they can reject legislation passed by Congress. However, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In summary, separation of powers establishes the distinct roles of each branch, while checks and balances create mechanisms to ensure that these branches have some degree of control over each other, preventing abuse of power and maintaining a system of checks.
In 3-5 sentences, explain the difference between separation of powers and checks and balances. Be sure to discuss the meaning of each term and provide an example of how each works within the context of our government.
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