Which principle did Montesquieu advocate for to prevent tyranny?

Montesquieu advocated for the principle of checks and balances as a means to prevent tyranny within government structures. He believed that government should be divided into different branches, each with its own powers and responsibilities. The purpose of this separation was to ensure that no single branch could dominate or misuse power, which was a common problem in absolute monarchies and tyrannical regimes. By implementing checks and balances, each branch of government can monitor and limit the actions of the others, promoting accountability and safeguarding individual liberties.

The validity of Montesquieu’s ideas became foundational in the design of modern democracies, particularly influencing the framers of the United States Constitution. They incorporated this principle to create a system where the legislative, executive, and judicial branches work independently while being able to check one another's power, ultimately fostering a stable and just government.

Other principles listed, such as judicial review, direct democracy, and the social contract, do not primarily address the prevention of tyranny in the same manner. Judicial review pertains specifically to the courts' ability to assess the constitutionality of laws and actions. Direct democracy involves citizens voting directly on laws and policies, while the social contract theory focuses on the agreement between individuals and the governance structure regarding rights and responsibilities rather than on the