Based on the U.S. Constitution, which part of government was intended to hold the least power?

The judiciary was intended to hold the least power within the framework of the U.S. Constitution due to the principle of judicial review and its role in interpreting laws, rather than making them. The framers of the Constitution designed the judiciary to be an independent branch that would check the powers of the legislative and executive branches but not engage directly in governance or policy-making. This limited role results from the belief that the legislative branch, representing the will of the people, should wield the most direct authority.

The framers believed that a powerful judiciary could interfere with the democratic process, so they ensured that judges would not have the same level of authority as elected representatives or the President. Therefore, while the judiciary plays a crucial role in upholding the Constitution and protecting rights, its power is primarily interpretative and dependent on the other branches for enforcement. This structure reflects a careful balance meant to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful.