When James Madison wrote "The accumulation of all powers ... in the same hands ... may be pronounced as the very definition of tyranny," he was arguing on behalf of which constitutional principles?

a. Federalism

b. Popular Sovereignty

c. Separation of Powers

d. Judicial Review

c. Separation of Powers

Madison refers to all of the power of a government in one branch or in one person's power is how corruption and tyranny exist against a country's people. He would be supporting the idea of separating the powers between people so no one person had all the power.

The US creates separation of powers through the three branches of the federal government. The executive branch contains the president, their staff, and cabinet members. The legislative branch contains the Congress and the power to create laws. The judicial branch contains the court system which has the power to interpret and apply the laws of the land.