Federalism: Federalism is a system where power is divided between a central government (national) and regional governments (states). The goal is to find the right balance between national and state authority.
Separation of Powers: Separation of powers is the division of governmental responsibilities among different branches (like executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Checks and Balances: Checks and balances are mechanisms that allow each branch of government to limit the powers of other branches. This system ensures there's no concentration or abuse of power by any single entity.