Montesquieu believed that to prevent tyranny in government there should be a separation of powers. Which option best illustrates this idea?

Montesquieu believed that to prevent tyranny in government there should be a separation of powers. Which option best illustrates this idea?

• A. Absolute power in the executive
• B. Dividing power among three branches of government
• C. Total power in the legislative branch
• D. Splitting power among three or more countries

Answer: (B)

Separating government powers into distinct branches is meant to keep any one group from gaining too much control. Montesquieu argued that tyranny arises when authority is concentrated in one place, so dividing powers among separate, equal functions helps prevent abuse. The best illustration is dividing power among three branches—legislative makes laws, executive enforces them, and the judiciary interprets them. Each branch also checks the others, creating a balance that curbs overreach. The other options miss the idea: putting all power in the executive concentrates control; putting all power in the legislative concentrates control there; and splitting power among three or more countries describes federalism or international governance, not internal separation of powers.

Separating government powers into distinct branches is meant to keep any one group from gaining too much control. Montesquieu argued that tyranny arises when authority is concentrated in one place, so dividing powers among separate, equal functions helps prevent abuse. The best illustration is dividing power among three branches—legislative makes laws, executive enforces them, and the judiciary interprets them. Each branch also checks the others, creating a balance that curbs overreach. The other options miss the idea: putting all power in the executive concentrates control; putting all power in the legislative concentrates control there; and splitting power among three or more countries describes federalism or international governance, not internal separation of powers.