Separation of powers is a constitutional doctrine that divides the government into three branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. The American government is separated into three branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial. Separation of powers refers to a horizontal division of power between distinct branches of the national government: legislative, executive, judicial. Power is divided into separate parts because “the accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judicial in the same hands may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” James Madison and the Framers (great band name) built a constitution with five pillars to stop tyranny in its tracks:
