"In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."
"The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself."
Source: Federalist #51 by James Madison

1) What Enlightenment idea of Montesquieu's does this quote refer to?

2)What is James Madison referring to when he says our government is "obliged to control itself?

3)What example can you come up with of how checks and balances are seen in our government today?

4)Explain "Checks and Balances" in your own words. What Enlightemeat thinker came up with this idea?