Choose the statement from the following choices that best describes the separation of powers. A. Powers and duties of the United States government are decided by a system of direct democracy. B. Powers and duties of the United States government are divided among two branches of government. C. Powers and duties of the United States government are divided among three branches of government. D. Powers and duties of the United States government are chosen entirely by the President of the United States.

C. Powers and duties of the United States government are divided among three branches of government.

Explanation:

The separation of powers prevents any one branch of government from taking over too much power. Powers are separated between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches in government.

The separation of powers principle was an idea embedded into the plans for American government by our founding fathers, based on their reading of Enlightenment political theory. The terminology "separation of powers" was introduced by Charles-Louis de Secondat, the Baron of Montesquieu. (Usually he's referred to as just "Montesquieu.") He wrote an important work of political theory called The Spirit of the Laws, published in 1748.

Within his treatment of how governments will function best, Montesquieu argued that executive, legislative, and judicial functions of government ought to be divided between parts of the government, so that no one person or division of the government can infringe on the overall rights of others in the government or of the members of the society overall.