What term describes the division of power among the three branches of government?

The term that describes the division of power among the three branches of government is "Separation of Powers." This concept is fundamental to the structure of the U.S. government, ensuring that no single branch—executive, legislative, or judicial—has absolute power, thus promoting a system of governance that allows each branch to operate independently while maintaining checks on the others.

The separation of powers helps to prevent tyranny and abuses of power by distributing authority and responsibilities. For instance, the legislative branch has the power to make laws, the executive branch enforces those laws, and the judicial branch interprets them. This framework encourages a balance where each branch can challenge the others, thus fostering accountability and upholding democratic principles.

In contrast, federalism pertains to the distribution of power between national and state governments, checks and balances refer to the mechanisms through which each branch can monitor and limit the functions of the others, and oligarchy refers to a form of government where power resides in the hands of a small group, which is unrelated to the division of government powers.