Final answer:
The Enlightenment philosopher whose idea of "separation of powers" influenced the U.S. Constitution is Montesquieu. Montesquieu believed in a system of government with three separate branches, and his ideas greatly influenced the framers of the U.S. Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Enlightenment philosopher whose idea of "separation of powers" influenced the U.S. Constitution is Montesquieu.
Montesquieu believed in a system of government with three separate branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. He argued that each branch should have its own powers and responsibilities, and that this division of powers would prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. His ideas greatly influenced the framers of the U.S. Constitution, who incorporated the principle of separation of powers into the structure of the American government.
For example, the U.S. Constitution separates powers by granting the legislative power to Congress, the executive power to the President, and the judicial power to the courts. This separation ensures a system of checks and balances, where each branch has the ability to limit the powers of the others, preventing any single branch from dominating the government.
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