Problema puterilor în stat a existat încă din lumea antică deşi ea nu putea fi pusă încă în legătura cu principiul separării puterilor.
Celui căruia îi revine meritul de a fi cercetat pentru prima oara mai metodic şi într-o noua lumină principiul separarii puterilor este filosoful şi juristul englez John Locke. El a dat prima formulare acestei doctrine atribuindu-i valoarea unui principiu de organizare a statului. În lucrarea sa „Essay on civil government“, filosoful englez susţinea existenţa a trei puteri: legislativă, executivă şi federativă. 

Powers problem has existed since the ancient world although she could not be made on the principle of separation of powers yet. Which has the merit of being more methodical investigation for the first time in a new light the principle of separation of powers is English philosopher and jurist John Locke. He gave the first formulation of this doctrine assigning a principle value of state organization. In his „Essay on Civil Government,“ the English philosopher argued that there are three branches: legislative, executive and federative In Locke’s conception, the legislature must belong parliament and supreme power was regarded as generally binding lay down rules of conduct. Limited executive power and law enforcement solve cases that could not be foreseen by the law, were to be entrusted to the monarch. Federative power was given to the king and all have the power to declare war, make peace and conclude treaties. Locke’s ideas had great importance for the history of political doctrines and exerted a definite influence in the constitutional life of the States of North America. They were the source of which was inspired Charles Second, Baron de Montesquieu — 1689—1755 — when, in his book L’esprit des lois resumed and deepened the problem of separation of state powers, giving it shape and shine to us.