---
title: "Montesquieu — Definition & Meaning | Model Diplomat"
description: "Montesquieu was a French philosopher known for his theory of the separation of powers, foundational to modern constitutionalism and governance."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/montesquieu"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Montesquieu (1689–1755) was a French Enlightenment political philosopher whose theory of the separation of powers shaped modern constitutionalism.
- What is Montesquieu's most important work and when was it published?
- How does the Indian Constitution treat Montesquieu's separation of powers?
- What was Montesquieu's typology of governments?
- Which revolutionary documents reflect Montesquieu's influence?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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James Madison invoked Montesquieu by name in Federalist No. 47 (1788) to justify the United States Constitution's division of authority among Congress, the President and the Supreme Court.

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