Allow me to be a bit cynical.
I think it was Montesquieu who formulated and clarified the idea of “separation of powers.” Basically, you have three branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. The doctrine of separation of powers ensures that all branches of government cooperate with each other without one impinging or curtailing the responsibilities of another. As a bastardization, here’s how checks-and-balances would work:
- Executive: enforces and upholds the laws of the land.
- Legislative: makes the laws of the land.
- Judiciary: determines the scope and jurisdiction of the laws of the land.
Don’t get me wrong, platforms and such are great and high-minded, but I sometimes think we’re getting too far ahead of ourselves and our expectations – and the ought-to-be, for that matter – when we stress it.
