Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Constitutional limitations refer to the restrictions placed on government power by a country's constitution. These limitations ensure that the government operates within certain boundaries and protects individual rights.
Separation of powers refers to the division of governmental responsibilities among different branches (such as executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent concentration of power.
Checks and balances are mechanisms in a political system that allow each branch of government to limit or control the actions of other branches, ensuring no one branch becomes too powerful.