I will take Madison over this ignoramus any day. Sure she will change her tune when Trump is elected.

The following essay can be found here. Perhaps this less-than-knowledgeable Senator may wish to read the Federalist Essays mentioned in this document, as they contain the arguments published for citizens in the states in order to explain the Constitution for ratification.

Separation of Powers – the genius of America’s Constitution

America’s Founders had only recently declared themselves free of a tyrannical government. They were determined that such tyranny would never be repeated in this land. Their new charter of government – the Constitution – carefully defined the powers delegated to government. The Founders were determined to bind down the administrators of the federal government with Constitutional chains so that abuse of power in any of its branches would be prevented. The revolutionary idea of separation of powers, although unpopular at first, became a means by which this was to be accomplished.

John Adams, in a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, stated: “I call you to witness that I was the first member of Congress who ventured to come out in public, as I did in January 1776, in my ‘Thoughts on Government,’ …in favor of a government with three branches, and an independent judiciary…” By the time the Constitution was adopted, the idea was supported by all of the members of the Convention. James Madison, the father of the Constitution, devoted five Federalist Papers (47-51) to an explanation of how the Executive, Legislative, and judicial branches were to be wholly independent of each other, yet bound together through an intricate system of checks and balances. Madison believed that keeping the three branches separated was fundamental to the preservation of liberty. He wrote:

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

George Washington, in his Farewell Address, reminded Americans of the need to preserve the Founders’ system. He spoke of the “love of power and proneness to abuse it which predominates in the human heart” and warned of the “necessity of reciprocal checks of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositories and constituting each the guardian … against invasions by the others.” Of such checks and balances through the separation of powers be concluded, “To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them.”

Footnote: Our Ageless Constitution, W. David Stedman & La Vaughn G. Lewis, Editors (Asheboro, NC, W. David Stedman Associates, 1987) Part III: ISBN 0-937047-01-5

Is the Senator's ignorance of the Constitution a reason for her failure to protect "the People's" liberty?

She was for POTUS writing law with executive orders, not enforcing existing laws, condoning targeting of political opponents using the IRS and FBI not to mention obstruction of justice and preventing oversight, as well as support illegal wars in Libya, Syria etc...

I have always considered this woman to be a complete dope.

You know, I think the founders were maniacal for not better defining treason and making the formation of any permanent political party part of that crime, but hey what do I know?

Politicians LOVE dictators as long as they get to be the dictator. The instant an opposing party is in power they demand “democracy”.

Thanks again to the goober Todd Akin.

Shallow thought processes Claire.

If she truly believes this, just what is her function in The Senate? And what is the function of the legislature? She should just resign.

“She came from Planet Claire. I knew she came from there”

“She drove a Plymouth Satellite. Faster than the speed of light”

Yeah, I kind of like the idea of a single seat of power such as an absolute monarchy or emperor, as long as it's a guaranteed conservative Christian leader who believes in controlling criminals, not guns.

But I'm sure McCaskill has someone more like himself in mind.

The stupid is strong in this one.

McCaskill blames partisanship and gridlock in Washington on separation of power? With even a sliver of intellectual honesty, she would admit the founders foresaw power struggles WITHIN each branch and inserted balance BETWEEN branches to lessen the problem. They never foresaw the power struggles between parties, as parties did not exist. Nor did they foresee career politicians in one branch siding with their party’s brethren in another branch to circumvent the system. As long as the press pushes the bias that gridlock is caused by conservatives not happily bowing to liberal demands, our low-information public will continue to believe the constitution is flawed and out-of-date....and folks like McCaskill will remain in office, even after making idiotic statements like this.

She is, no doubt happy for the 17th amendment though - knowing full well that with her colossal stupidity, she would stand no chance of appointment, as the founders intended.

Treason against the people of the United States.

The number one reason to reject both the 16th and 17th amendments. Take away the power to borrow for the government, and return Senators to State control. Wouldn’t it be an awesome sight watching as Sen McConnell was fired one day, and replaced the next? THAT can happen if the Senators sit at the pleasure of the individual State legislatures.