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The Constitution set up a strong federal government. To keep the government from becoming too powerful, the farmers relied on Montesquieu's idea of the separation of powers. In the constitution, they created three branches of government and then defined the powers of each.
Separation of powers limits the government by making sure that one person or a small group of people can't totally ruin everything by themselves. For instance, if the United States had a President but no Congress, then the President could just make the laws that he wanted, and send the army to enforce them. Because he has to work with congress, his power is limited, and laws are usually a compromise. The same thing with the Supreme Court. They interpret the law, but if there was no president or congress, then they could decide everything themselves, declare war, make new laws depending on what they wanted, etc. Because there are separate powers given to three different groups, each of them can balance things out if one of the groups tries to go too far.
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What were three methods used to limit government?
By ensuring the separation of powers, fedralism and ensuring that the public have the means to provid alternatives to the government and by voting to pass or strike down legislation.
What does the separation of powers mean?
Separation of Powers mean division of governmental authority. The division of power is among the three branches of government. These branches are executive, legislative, and judicial. The role of these branches is to limit abuses of power by Governments. http://www.blurtit.com/q783617.html
What Constitutional powers help to limit the power of government?
The constitutional powers that help to limit the power of government is dividing it into three branches. The three branches of government are executive, legislative and judiciary.
How does separation of powers and checks and balances support democracy?
Both of these limit the amount of power one individual or a small group of people can have. This supports democracy because it is against dictatorship and oligarchy. Separation of powers gives different powers to different branches of government. This means that no branch has the power to do everything. Checks and Balances are put into place so that the different branches of government hold each other accountable for what they do.
What idea comes from the enlightenment and is reflected into the constitution?
Political power ultimately rests with the people, not the government.
