Legal Concepts

Separation of Powers

Separation of powers refers to the idea that the three branches of government must have separate powers to work correctly.

Landmark Cases Involving Separation of Powers:

Marble tile with the phrase "it is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is." above "Marbury v. Madison 1803" etched in gold.

Marbury v. Madison

Establishment of Judicial Review and the Importance of the Separation of Powers
Newspaper from The New York Times on August 9, 1974. The headline reads "Nixon Resigns" followed by "he urges a time of healing; Ford will take office today."

United States v. Nixon

Court Limits Executive Privilege, Orders Nixon to Release Tapes

Learn more about separation of powers in Wex, a free legal dictionary and encyclopedia from Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute.

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