<P> Separation of powers is a political doctrine originating in the writings of Charles de Secondat , Baron de Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws , in which he argued for a constitutional government with three separate branches , each of which would have defined abilities to check the powers of the others . 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 . </P>
<P> Separation of powers is a political doctrine originating in the writings of Charles de Secondat , Baron de Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws , in which he argued for a constitutional government with three separate branches , each of which would have defined abilities to check the powers of the others . 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 . </P>
who gave the framers the idea of separation of powers
who gave the framers the idea of separation of powers
Charles de Secondat , Baron de Montesquieu
Charles de Secondat , Baron de Montesquieu