Editing Government (section)

== Branches ==
[[File:Separation of powers.png|thumb|upright=1.5|Separation of powers in the [[US government]], demonstrating the ''trias politica'' model]]
{{further|Separation of powers|Fusion of powers}}

Governments are typically organised into distinct institutions constituting branches of government each with particular [[Power (social and political)|power]]s, functions, duties, and responsibilities. The distribution of powers between these institutions differs between governments, as do the functions and number of branches. An independent, parallel distribution of powers between branches of government is the [[separation of powers]]. A shared, intersecting, or overlapping distribution of powers is the [[fusion of powers]].

Governments are often organised into three branches with separate powers: a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary; this is sometimes called the {{lang|la|trias politica}} model. However, in [[parliament]]ary and [[semi-presidential system]]s, branches of government often intersect, having shared membership and overlapping functions. Many governments have fewer or additional branches, such as an independent [[electoral commission]] or [[Supreme audit institution|auditory]] branch.{{sfn|Needler|1991|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Fcssj8yigS4C&pg=PA116 116]–118}}