What does separation of powers doctrine ensure?

The separation of powers doctrine ensures independent functioning and oversight of government branches by dividing government responsibilities into three distinct branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary. Each branch has its own powers and functions, which allows for a system of checks and balances.

This structure prevents any single branch from gaining too much power and enables each branch to limit the powers of the others, thereby promoting accountability and reducing the risk of abuse. For instance, the legislature makes laws, the executive enforces them, and the judiciary interprets them. This interdependence ensures that no one branch can operate without regard to the others, fostering a balanced government that operates effectively and fairly.

The other options do not accurately describe the core purpose of the separation of powers. Equal distribution of resources does not relate to the operational independence of branches. Preventing arbitrary judicial power is one aspect of the broader goals of the judiciary but is not the primary function of the whole doctrine. Limiting the government's economic role is a policy choice rather than a structural principle defined by separation of powers.