Separation of powers is a political doctrine originating in the writings of Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws where he urged for a constitutional government with three separate branches of government. Each of the three branches would have defined abilities to check the powers of the other branches. This idea was called separation of powers. This philosophy heavily influenced the writing of the United States Constitution, according to which the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of the United States government are kept distinct in order to prevent abuse of power. This United States form of separation of powers is associated with a system of checks and balances. 

During the Age of Enlightenment, philosophers such as John Locke advocated the principle in their writings, whereas others, such as Thomas Hobbes, strongly opposed it. Montesquieu was one of the foremost supporters of separating the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. His writings considerably influenced the opinions of the framers of the United States Constitution. QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What idea shaped the United States form of government?
2. What was the structure of the US government impacted by?
3. 
Q2:
1. What did Montesquieu write?
2. What was a text by Montesquieu?
3. 
Q3:
1. What concept did Montesquieu recommend?
2. What idea did Montesquieu think should be put into place?
3. 
Q4:
1. How many separate powers did Montesquieu recommend?
2. What did Montesquieu think was an adequate number of branches of power?
3. 
Q5:
1. What are the three branches of the United States government?
2. What three separate power exist within the US government?
3. 
Q6:
1. What is supposed to be the benefit of keeping power separate?
2. Why is it a good thing for a country to have separate powers?
3. 
Q7:
1. What kind of system helps achieve the separation of powers?
2. How can the true separation of powers be brought about?
3. 
Q8:
1. Who was in favor of systems of checks and balances?
2. Who agreed with the idea of separation of powers?
3. 
Q9:
1. How do we know that philosophers like John Locke were in favor of checks and balances?
2. What gives us clues that philosophers like John Locke were for the separation of power?
3. 
Q10:
1. Was there opposition to the system of checks and balances?
2. Did the idea of separation of power have its detractors?
3. 
Q11:
1. Who was not in favor of the system of checks and balances?
2. Who didn't think checks and balances were a good governmental system?
3. 
Q12:
1. Who was influenced by Montesquieu?
2. Who took a page out of Montesquieu's book?
3. 
Q13:
1. What is the subject of the article?
2. What does the article discuss?
3. 
Q14:
1. Where can the three branches of government be found?
2. What has three separate branches of powers?
3. 
Q15:
1. When was John Locke's lifetime?
2. What period did John Locke live during?
3. 
