Separation of powers is balancing the amount of power the government has over the people into 3 branchesl Judicial Branch Legislative Branch and Executive Branch This is to make sure one person or group doesn't take advantage of having too much power that may be abused and used against their own citizens. You could remember this by remembering the name "Montesquieu" has 3 syllables for the 3 branches he caused ;D
The separation of powers is the 3 branches of government ( judicial, executive, legislative) no branch has more power than the other they also have equal power over the people.