Which constitutional principle prevents the abuse of power?

Study for the Minnesota Civics Test. Enhance your understanding with multiple choice questions, each providing insightful hints and explanations. Get prepared for your exam!

The principle that prevents the abuse of power is checks and balances. This system is designed to ensure that no single branch of government—executive, legislative, or judicial—can overpower the others. Each branch has specific powers and responsibilities, and they can monitor and restrict each other's actions. For example, while the legislative branch can create laws, the executive has the power to veto them, and the judicial branch has the authority to interpret laws and can declare them unconstitutional if they violate the principles of the constitution.

This interdependence between branches ensures that power is not concentrated in one area, making it difficult for any one branch to act unilaterally without restraint. This is critical for maintaining democratic governance and protecting the rights of individuals and minority groups from potential tyranny by the majority or by any single governing authority.

Other principles like federalism and separation of powers are also essential components of the government structure, but they serve different purposes. Federalism involves the distribution of power between national and state governments, and separation of powers focuses on dividing government responsibilities into distinct branches, but neither directly addresses the need for oversight among those branches to prevent abuses of power in the way that checks and balances do. Judicial review, while important for upholding the Constitution,

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