Final answer:
The writers of the Constitution designed a Separation of Powers system to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. This system includes legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each with its own powers and the ability to check the others, creating a balanced federal government with checks and balances.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of system that the writers of the Constitution set up to prevent one branch from becoming too powerful is the Separation of Powers. This concept divides the government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. Each branch has unique responsibilities and the power to check and balance the other branches. Notably, the legislative branch is in charge of making laws, the executive branch enforces the laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws through judicial review. Together, these elements ensure that no single branch gains too much power, thus maintaining a system of checks and balances within the federal government.
Influenced by thinkers like Montesquieu, the Founding Fathers wished to create a government where federal power was balanced with state power, and where the various components of government would have to cooperate to govern effectively. This cooperative nature of governance is exemplified by the potential for the president to veto legislation from Congress, and for Congress to override a presidential veto, requiring negotiation to achieve legislative success.