Editing Separation of powers (section)

{{short description|Division of a state's government into branches}}
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{{distinguish|Separatism}}
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The '''separation of powers''' principle functionally differentiates several types of [[state (polity)|state]] power (usually [[Legislature#Legislation|law-making]], [[adjudication]], and [[Executive (government)#Function|execution]]) and requires these operations of [[government]] to be conceptually and institutionally distinguishable and articulated, thereby maintaining the integrity of each.{{sfn|Waldron|2013|pp=457–458}} To put this model into practice, government is divided into structurally independent branches to perform various functions{{sfn|Waldron|2013|pp=459–460}} (most often a legislature, a judiciary and an administration, sometimes known as the {{lang|la|trias politica}}). When each function is allocated strictly to one branch, a government is described as having a high degree of separation; whereas, when one person or branch plays a significant part in the exercise of more than one function, this represents a [[fusion of powers]].