Which principle of government allows one branch to limit another branch's power?

The principle that enables one branch of government to limit another branch's power is checks and balances. This system ensures that no single branch—executive, legislative, or judicial—can dominate or abuse its authority. Each branch has specific powers and responsibilities, and there are mechanisms in place for them to supervise and restrain each other. For example, the legislative branch can create laws, but the president has the power to veto legislation, and the courts can interpret laws and rule them unconstitutional.

This framework promotes accountability and prevents tyranny by ensuring that power is not concentrated in just one branch. In contrast, separation of powers, while related, refers to the distribution of power among the branches rather than the interactivity and controls between them. Popular sovereignty expresses the principle that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, while judicial review is the power of courts to evaluate the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions. Thus, checks and balances is the principle that specifically addresses the limits imposed by one branch on another.