In a democracy, which of the following mechanisms primarily ensures that the government's power is not absolute?

The correct option is

The existence of an independent judiciary

Explanation

The core principle involved is Constitutionalism or Limited Government. In a democracy, the government's authority is not unlimited; it is restricted by the supreme law (the Constitution) to prevent the exercise of arbitrary or absolute power. Institutional checks and balances are required to enforce these limits.

• The existence of an independent judiciary is Correct: An Independent Judiciary serves as the guardian of the Constitution. Through the power of Judicial Review, the judiciary can declare laws passed by the legislature or actions taken by the executive as unconstitutional if they violate the Constitution or Fundamental Rights. This continuous monitoring is the primary mechanism that prevents any organ of the state from exercising absolute power.
• The requirement of regular elections is Incorrect: While Regular Elections are fundamental to democracy and ensure political accountability, they occur periodically. A government elected with a large majority could still act in an authoritarian manner (majoritarianism) between elections. Without an independent body to check its daily actions, elections alone do not guarantee that power remains non-absolute.
• The presence of international oversight committees is Incorrect: International oversight committees are not a primary internal mechanism for sovereign democracies. Reliance on external oversight contradicts the principle of national sovereignty.
• The separation of powers between state and center is Incorrect: The separation of powers between state and center refers to the Federal System (vertical division of power). While this distributes power, it does not necessarily prevent a specific government (whether central or state) from becoming absolute within its own jurisdiction. The judiciary is the arbiter that enforces this division.

Key Takeaway:
Constitutionalism (Limited Government) is primarily upheld by an Independent Judiciary, which acts as a bulwark against the tyranny of the executive and the legislature by enforcing the Rule of Law.