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Student Handout – Page 1
Separate, Check, Balance
Directions: Answer the questions below based on the prompt from your teacher during the PowerPoint. Use
complete sentences and thoughtful answers.
In your group…
1. What is the purpose of government in your opinion?
2. How can government be kept from becoming too powerful?
3. What would a government look like where one person or group had all of the power and there was no
way to limit or check that power?
Montesquieu’s plan for preventing government abuse of power:
Power must be _________________________.
What does that mean?
Power must be _________________________.
What does that mean?
Power must be _________________________.
What does that mean?
The Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. © 2012
Student Handout – Page 2
*Quotes from Ideas for Discussion, We the People: the Citizen and the
Constitution, Level 2, page 43.
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Separate, Check, Balance
What Did the Founders Think?
The Founders included Montesquieu’s ideas of separation of powers and checks and balances when creating the
new government. Below are quotes from three Founders about the abuse of power. Answer the questions below
each quote individually.
“Give all power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all power to the few, they will oppress the
many.”
Alexander Hamilton
What does this quote mean?
Do you agree or disagree
with the meaning of this
quote? Why or why not?
What ideas of Montesquieu
are reflected in this quote?
“There are two passions which have a Powerful influence on the affairs of men. These are ambition and
[greed]; the love of power and the love of money.”
Benjamin Franklin
What does this quote mean?
Do you agree or disagree
with the meaning of this
quote? Why or why not?
What ideas of Montesquieu
are reflected in this quote?
“From the nature of man, we may be sure that those who have power in their hands…will always, when
they can…increase it.”
George Mason
What does this quote mean?
Do you agree or disagree
with the meaning of this
quote? Why or why not?
What ideas of Montesquieu
are reflected in this quote?
The Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. © 2012