American Government / Unit 1 Gov 031 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Separation of Powers
Captions available
The idea
Separation of powers assigns lawmaking, law-executing, and law-interpreting to three distinct branches of government.
In practice
Congress legislates; the presidency executes; the federal courts interpret — Articles I, II, and III in order.
Where people slip
Separation divides jobs; a different mechanism handles mutual restraint.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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