Constitutionally liberal states (as opposed to totalitarian ones) separate legislative (law-making), executive (law-upholding) and judicial (law-interpreting) functions.

• 宪法保证的自由国家（与极权主义国家相对立）是三权分立的：立法权（制定法律），行政权（维护法律）和司法权（解释法律）。