Use your knowledge about government to answer the constructed-response questions. - What is Separation of Powers as described in the United States Constitution? Does the principle of Separation of Powers prevent the three branches of government from abusing their constitutional powers? Use details and examples to support your response.

The principle of Separation of Powers, as enshrined in the United States Constitution, divides governmental power among three distinct branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This division aims to prevent tyranny by ensuring that no single branch accumulates excessive power.<br /><br />* **Legislative Branch (Congress):** Responsible for making laws. This power is vested in a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.<br />* **Executive Branch (President):** Responsible for enforcing laws. This power is vested in the President, who also serves as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and head of state.<br />* **Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and Federal Courts):** Responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring they are applied constitutionally. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land.<br /><br />The Separation of Powers, while not completely preventing abuses of power, does significantly mitigate the risk. The system incorporates a series of checks and balances, enabling each branch to limit the power of the others. This intricate system of inter-branch oversight helps maintain equilibrium and prevent any one branch from becoming too dominant.<br /><br />Here are some examples of how checks and balances work in practice:<br /><br />* **Congress can impeach and remove the President or federal judges:** This power acts as a check on the executive and judicial branches, preventing them from acting outside the bounds of the law or abusing their authority. For example, President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives, though he was acquitted by the Senate.<br />* **The President can veto legislation passed by Congress:** This prevents Congress from enacting laws the President deems unwise or unconstitutional. Congress, in turn, can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses, demonstrating the dynamic interplay of power.<br />* **The Supreme Court can declare laws passed by Congress or actions taken by the President unconstitutional:** This power of judicial review ensures that all government actions conform to the Constitution, the supreme law of the land. The landmark case of *Marbury v. Madison* (1803) established this principle.<br /><br />While the system isn't foolproof, the separation of powers and the accompanying checks and balances create a system of shared power and accountability. This framework makes it more difficult for any one branch to usurp power and act tyrannically, thereby safeguarding the principles of limited government and individual liberty. However, the system relies on the branches actively exercising their checks on each other. If one branch becomes passive or complicit, the risk of power imbalance increases.<br />