What does the principle of separation of powers ensure?

The principle of separation of powers is designed to prevent any one branch of government—executive, legislative, or judicial—from becoming too powerful. This is achieved through a system of checks and balances, where each branch has certain controls over the others. For instance, while the legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch has the power to veto those laws, and the judicial branch can interpret and review the laws' constitutionality.

This interconnected framework ensures that the branches work collaboratively while also providing mechanisms for oversight and accountability among them. It promotes a balance of power, which is essential to safeguard democracy and protect individual liberties by preventing any single entity from monopolizing governmental authority. The correct answer reflects this crucial feature of government systems that operate under the principle of separation of powers.