What idea did Montesquieu popularize about government?

What idea did Montesquieu popularize about government?

• A. human beings form governments to protect their individual interests
• B. protecting individual rights is the most important function of government
• C. government should be based on a separation of powers
• D. citizens have a right to overthrow unpopular governments

Answer: (C)

Montesquieu popularized dividing governmental power among separate institutions to prevent tyranny. He argued that to protect liberty, the state should have distinct branches with clearly defined powers: a legislative branch to make laws, an executive branch to enforce them, and a judicial branch to interpret and settle disputes. Crucially, each branch should have ways to check the others, so no single group can dominate all aspects of government. This idea contrasts with approaches that emphasize protecting rights as the sole purpose of government or justifying rebellion as a primary tool. Montesquieu’s focus is on how power is organized—how the structure of government itself can restrain power and encourage liberty. His thinking helped shape later constitutional design, including systems that rely on checks and balances among branches.

Montesquieu popularized dividing governmental power among separate institutions to prevent tyranny. He argued that to protect liberty, the state should have distinct branches with clearly defined powers: a legislative branch to make laws, an executive branch to enforce them, and a judicial branch to interpret and settle disputes. Crucially, each branch should have ways to check the others, so no single group can dominate all aspects of government.

This idea contrasts with approaches that emphasize protecting rights as the sole purpose of government or justifying rebellion as a primary tool. Montesquieu’s focus is on how power is organized—how the structure of government itself can restrain power and encourage liberty. His thinking helped shape later constitutional design, including systems that rely on checks and balances among branches.