Constitutional Monarchy: Many Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke and Montesquieu, believed in a constitutional monarchy where the power of the monarch is limited by a written constitution. The constitution would outline the rights of citizens and establish a system of checks and balances between different branches of government to prevent tyranny.
Representative Democracy: Enlightenment philosophers argued that governments should derive their power from the consent of the governed. They advocated for representative democracies, where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf and hold the government accountable.
Separation of Powers: Enlightenment philosophers emphasized the importance of separating the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. This separation of powers is intended to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and encroaching on the rights of citizens.
Checks and Balances: Enlightenment philosophers believed that different branches of government should have the ability to check and balance each other's power. For example, the legislature can pass laws, but the executive can veto those laws, and the judiciary can declare laws unconstitutional.
Natural Rights: Enlightenment philosophers maintained that individuals possess certain fundamental rights and freedoms by virtue of their humanity. These rights often include the right to life, liberty, property, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Governments are obligated to protect these rights.
Social Contract: Enlightenment philosophers considered the relationship between individuals and the government as a social contract. According to this concept, individuals agree to give up some of their rights in exchange for the benefits of living in an organized society. In return, the government has an obligation to protect the rights of its citizens.
The desire for a government based on these principles reflected the Enlightenment philosophers' belief in the importance of individual liberty, rational decision-making, and the advancement of human progress through the use of reason and science.