Who argued that the best government is one in which power is not held by a single individual?

Montesquieu argued that the best government is one in which power is not concentrated in the hands of a single individual. His influential work, "The Spirit of the Laws," emphasizes the importance of separation of powers within a government, dividing authority among different branches to prevent any one entity from becoming too powerful. Montesquieu's theories were foundational in shaping modern democratic thought, advocating for a government that is balanced and accountable, thus protecting individual freedoms and preventing tyranny. This concept greatly influenced the development of political systems, notably in the framers of the United States Constitution, who incorporated checks and balances into the structure of the government to ensure that power would be distributed rather than monopolized.