Final answer:
The United States Constitution establishes a government divided into three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) to ensure separation of powers with a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Step-by-step explanation:
The separation of powers established by the United States Constitution involves dividing the government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch has its distinct functions; with the legislative responsible for making laws, the executive for enforcing them, and the judicial for interpreting laws. To ensure that no branch becomes too powerful, a system of checks and balances is implemented, where each branch has certain powers that can limit the actions of the others. For example, the President (executive branch) can veto legislation from Congress (legislative branch), but Congress can override that veto with a 2/3 majority. Similarly, the Supreme Court (judicial branch) can declare laws unconstitutional, checking the other two branches. This framework forms a key part of what is known as federalism in the United States.