Montesquieu's system of "separation of powers" means that what? a. government is divided into three branches b. people are born with rights that cannot be taken away c. government may rule because the citizens consent d. people have the right to life, liberty, and property

Montesquieu's system of "separation of powers" means that government should be divided into three branches (a). Montesquieu argued that a tripartite system was best or a system divided between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches so that no one branch would gain too much power in governance.