Final answer:
The idea of Checks and Balances, influenced by Montesquieu, is a system in which the powers of government are divided among different branches to prevent abuse of power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea of Checks and Balances, specifically developed by the Enlightenment thinker Montesquieu, is a system in which the powers of the government are divided among different branches to prevent abuse of power. Montesquieu argued that the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of government should be assigned to separate bodies. This ensures that no single branch has too much power and that each branch can check the actions of the others. For example, the legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch enforces the laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws through the power of judicial review.