Britannica AI Icon

horizontal power sharing

government and society

Quick Summary

Horizontal power sharing distributes political authority among different branches of government, such as the executive, legislature, and judiciary. This system is closely linked to the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances, where each branch can limit or review the actions of others to ensure accountability. For instance, in the United States, the president can veto laws, and the Supreme Court can review their constitutionality. This arrangement prevents any single branch from becoming too powerful and promotes a more balanced government.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.