"It was the separation of powers upon which the framers placed their hopes for the preservation of the people's liberties. Despite this heritage, the congress has been in too many cases more than willing to walk away from its constitutional powers"

This quote by Robert Byrd speaks to the relevance of the separation of powers in the United States federal government. The of the Constitution thought that by dividing the powers of the federal government right into three branches, the people's freedoms would be preserved. Nevertheless, Byrd is recommending that Congress has actually been as well going to surrender its constitutional powers, which might cause a weakening of the people's freedoms. This is a caution that Congress need to not be also fast to quit its powers, as it could bring about a loss of freedom for individuals. Byrd's quote is a suggestion of the importance of the splitting up of powers and also the requirement for Congress to stay attentive in safeguarding the people's liberties.