Analysis: The power of the federal government is divided between the three branches: legislative, executive and judicial, which constitutes the "Separation of powers" in the strict sense. To avoid tyranny or despotism, the exercise of power by any of the three powers of the federal government is limited in several ways by the powers given to the other two, thus establishing the principle of limits and counterweights. For example, the legislative branch of the Congress of The United States is limited and counterbalanced by the presidential veto; and the power of the president to appoint ambassadors, federal judges, and high federal officials are limited by the constitutional requirement that those appointments obtain the consent of the Senate.
This method of separation of powers has also been carried out, within each State, in its own state constitution through the division of state governmental power among the three branches of government of the State; the creation of checks and balances between the three branches of government State, and the delegation of governmental power to two lower levels of local government, counties, and municipalities.