What are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government?

The French political philosopher Montesquieu is credited with the first modern formulation of the separation of powers, a doctrine that divides government functions among independent bodies to prevent arbitrary power and safeguard liberty.1

The three branches are defined as follows:

• Legislative: The legislature is the lawmaking branch of government. Its powers typically include passing laws, establishing budgets, ratifying treaties, and overseeing the executive branch.2
• Executive: The executive branch is charged with carrying out and enforcing the laws. It is also responsible for appointing officials, conducting foreign policy, and providing diplomatic representation.3
• Judicial: The judiciary is responsible for the authoritative adjudication of controversies regarding the application of laws. This includes resolving civil, criminal, and administrative disputes.4

In many constitutional systems, these branches operate under a principle of checks and balances, where each branch is empowered to limit the actions of the others, ensuring that power is shared and restrained.5