I think it's a wonderful phrase. 'several constituent parts, by their mutual relations, might be the means of keeping each other in their proper places.' (Something like that.)
This idea is a big part of our Constitution. Checks and balances, separation of powers. We have three main branches of government, so that no one man or group could seize control. For the govt. to do almost anything requires the agreement of at least two of these branches. And each branch has some control over the other branches, to keep them from going out of control.
So the constituent parts of government keep each other in their proper places.
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I think it's a wonderful phrase. 'several constituent parts, by their mutual relations, might be the means of keeping each other in their proper places.' (Something like that.)
This idea is a big part of our Constitution. Checks and balances, separation of powers. We have three main branches of government, so that no one man or group could seize control. For the govt. to do almost anything requires the agreement of at least two of these branches. And each branch has some control over the other branches, to keep them from going out of control.
So the constituent parts of government keep each other in their proper places.
A manual wind-up watch has gears and springs. They must all be in there, and in the right place, if the watch is to work.