Montesquieu's concept refers to the idea of separating political power into different branches of government, each with its own responsibilities and limitations. This serves as a safeguard against tyranny and promotes a system of checks and balances.
Related terms
Separation of powers: The division of government power into three branches - legislative, executive, and judicial - to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Checks and balances: A system in which each branch of government has the ability to limit or "check" the powers of other branches to prevent abuse or misuse.
Judicial review: The power of the courts to determine if laws or actions are constitutional or not.