What aspect of government did Montesquieu influence in the U.S. Constitution?

Montesquieu had a profound influence on the structure of government defined in the U.S. Constitution, particularly through his ideas on the separation of powers. He proposed that government should be divided into distinct branches to prevent any one group from gaining too much power, which is foundational to the Constitution’s establishment of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This separation allows each branch to function independently while maintaining a system of checks and balances.

By distributing power across different branches, Montesquieu's philosophy helped frame the U.S. governmental system, ensuring that each branch has its unique responsibilities while also being able to check the power of the others. This principle is embodied in the Constitution, which is designed to protect individual liberties and prevent tyranny by ensuring that the three branches can monitor and balance each other’s authority.

Although the concept of checks and balances is closely tied to Montesquieu’s theories, the choice emphasizing the three branches of government more accurately captures the broader influence he had on the Constitution’s structure and the foundational ideas about governance that continue to shape the United States today.