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Montesquieu Here are a few things that you should know about Montesquieu: He was born in France on January 18, 1689 and died February 10, 1755 One of his strong beliefs is that government should be broken into separate parts so no one part gets too powerful. He had a hand in influencing the writers of constitutions all over the world including James Madison. He separated administrative government into the executive, judicial and legislative branches. While he believed that women would be effective governmental leaders, I also believed that a man should run the household. Please answer these questions regarding my influence on modern American government after reading this article: (Source is Wikipedia) Separation of powers is the political doctrine under which the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government are kept distinct, to prevent abuse of power. This U.S. form of separation of powers is sometimes also known as checks and balances. During the Age of Enlightenment, several philosophers, such as John Locke and James Harrington, advocated the principle in their writings, whereas others, such as Thomas Hobbes strongly opposed it. Montesquieu was one of the foremost supporters of separating the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. His writings considerably influenced the opinions of the framers of the United States Constitution. Checks and balances Separation of powers is not absolute; it is instead qualified by the doctrine of checks and balances. James Madison wrote that the three branches "should not be so far separated as to have no constitutional control over each other." The system of checks and balances is designed to allow each branch to restrain abuse by another branch. Legislative Executive Judicial Writes and May veto laws Determines which laws enacts laws May not Congress intended to Enacts taxes, refuse to apply to any given case authorizes spend money Determines whether a borrowing, and allocated for law is unconstitutional sets the budget certain Determines how Has sole power purposes Congress meant the law to declare war Wages war at to apply to disputes May start the direction Determines whether investigations, of Congress what Congress has especially (Congress legislated is against the makes the unconstitutional executive rules for the Determines how a law branch military) acts to determine the Often appoints Makes decrees disposition of prisoners the heads of the or declarations Determines how a law executive (for example, acts to compel testimony branch declaring a and the production of Sometimes state of evidence appoints judges emergency) Determines how laws Ratifies treaties and should be interpreted to promulgates assure uniform policies lawful in a top-down fashion regulations via the appeals process, and executive but gives discretion in orders individual cases to low Often appoints level judges. (The judges amount of discretion Has power to depends upon the grant pardons standard of review, to convicted determined by the type criminals of case in question.) Polices its own members Is never immune to arbitrary dismissal by Congress through impeachment proceedings Questions: Please answer on a separate piece of paper 1. What is the purpose of separation of power? (2-3 sentences) 2. a. What branch appoints judges? b. What branch determines if a law is constitutional? c. What branch appoints heads of the executive branch? 3. What is meant by the term "checks and balances"? (2-3 sentences) 4. What is a constitution? (look it up) 5. Does separation of power work in the United States of America today? Why or Why not? (2 paragraphs using 4 specific examples of it working or not working)