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The
framers of the Constitution essentially took Montesquieu’s concept of
separation of powers and put it into practice, creating a tripartite
government that split authority between executive, legislative, and judicial
branches. They also instituted measures designed to ensure that no one branch
would become too powerful. Popularly known as “checks and balances,” these
measures included things like the president’s veto power, the fact that only
Congress can declare war, and the provision that federal and Supreme Court
judges hold their terms for life.
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