Which principle ensures that no branch of government exceeds its power?

The principle that ensures no branch of government exceeds its power is checks and balances. This system is integral to the structure of the U.S. government, as it establishes a framework where each of the three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—can monitor and limit each other's actions. This prevents any one branch from gaining too much power and helps to maintain a balance among them.

Through checks and balances, for example, the legislative branch has the power to create laws, but the executive branch can veto those laws. Conversely, the judicial branch has the authority to interpret laws and can declare them unconstitutional, effectively checking the powers of both the legislative and executive branches. This interconnected mechanism promotes accountability and transparency, ensuring that power is not concentrated or abused.

Other principles such as federalism, democracy, and separation of powers also play vital roles in the functioning of the government. Federalism divides power between national and state governments, democracy involves citizen participation in governance, and separation of powers distributes governmental responsibilities among the branches. However, it is the checks and balances that specifically address the concern of preventing any branch from exceeding its authority.