Question

Who proposed the separation of powers that became an important element of the US. Constitution?

Answer 1

John Locke and Montesquieu

Explanation:

John Locke and Montesquieu, two of the main Enlightenment thinkers, proposed and built upon, respectively, the idea of the separation of powers, specifically legislative and executive.

Answer 2

John Locke and Charles Louis Baron Montesquieu

Explanation:

Locke of England wrote before Montesquieu, who built on Locke
s theories. Montesquieu clarified and expanded on Locke's philosophy as Montesquieu's writings were the direct template for the writing of the US constitution.

Locke had proposed that the protection of basic human rights dependent on a separation of powers, principally between the Monocracy and the Legislative bodies. While Locke wrote about the role of the judiciary he did not distinquish between the role of Monocracy and an independent judiciary being able to to judge the actions of the King and the Parliament.

Montesquieu proposed that the three principal roles of government must be separate and able to exercise power against power. ( This idea is reflected in the system of checks and balances found in the US constitution. Montesquieu define the principle parts of the government to be the Executive , Legislative, and Judicial. Baron Montesquieu being a judge himself, clearly defined the Judicial as being separate from the executive and independent of the other two branches.

Baron Montesquieu in contrast to other Enlightenment thinkers had a gloomy view of human nature. He felt that humans have a tendency toward evil and selfishness. Montesquieu stated that a person invested with power is apt to abuse it. This idea is expressed in the phrase power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The ideal government was one that would prevent any one person or group of people from obtaining too much power, that could be then abused to the detriment of human rights and freedom.

Both Locke and Montesquieu believed that the separation of power was essential to the protection of individual rights and freedom. The US constitution is closely modeled on the framework found in the writings of Montesquieu.