Other · James Madison · January 30, 1788

James Madison, January 1788: the essay on separation of powers. Putting legislative, executive and judicial power in the same hands 'may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.'

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.