In 1748, French political thinker, Montesquieu, identified in De l’esprit des lois the three branches of government between which power should be allocated and separated: the executive which takes action to implement the law, defend the nation, conduct foreign affairs and administer internal policies; the legislative which makes law, and the judiciary which applies the law to determine disputes and punish criminals. According to the doctrine the executive cannot make law. Neither can the legislative determine disputes or any of the branches exercise the power of the other.
