An influential French writer who argued that 'Power should be a check to power' was which thinker?

An influential French writer who argued that 'Power should be a check to power' was which thinker?

• A. Louis XIV
• B. Baron de Montesquieu
• C. Voltaire
• D. Thomas Hobbes

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is separation of powers and checks on government. Montesquieu argued that political power should be divided among distinct branches so that each one can limit the others, preventing any single part of government from becoming tyrannical. This approach—power to check power—is what he champions in his work, The Spirit of the Laws, and it helped shape modern constitutions that balance legislative, executive, and judicial functions (a major influence on systems like the United States Constitution). Louis XIV exemplified absolute monarchy, where royal power concentrates in one ruler, which runs counter to the idea of separate, checking branches. Voltaire criticized abuses of power and fought for civil liberties, but his emphasis was more on rights and tolerance than on creating a formal system of checks and balances. Hobbes argued for a strong sovereign to maintain order and prevent chaos, not for power being divided to restrain rulers.

The main idea here is separation of powers and checks on government. Montesquieu argued that political power should be divided among distinct branches so that each one can limit the others, preventing any single part of government from becoming tyrannical. This approach—power to check power—is what he champions in his work, The Spirit of the Laws, and it helped shape modern constitutions that balance legislative, executive, and judicial functions (a major influence on systems like the United States Constitution).

Louis XIV exemplified absolute monarchy, where royal power concentrates in one ruler, which runs counter to the idea of separate, checking branches. Voltaire criticized abuses of power and fought for civil liberties, but his emphasis was more on rights and tolerance than on creating a formal system of checks and balances. Hobbes argued for a strong sovereign to maintain order and prevent chaos, not for power being divided to restrain rulers.