John Adams wrote the following letter to Jefferson on March 1, 1789. 2 months before the first inauguration, and the beginning of this new government. Jefferson was still in Paris. Adams wrote:
In four days, the new Government is to be erected. Washington appears to have an unanimous vote: and there is probably a Plurality if not a Majority in favour of your Friend. — It may be found easier to give Authority, than to yield Obedience.
Amendments to the Constitution, will be expected, and no doubt discussed. Will you be so good as look over the Code and write me your Sentiments of Amendments which you think necessary or usefull? That greatest and most necessary of all Amendments, the Separation of the Executive Power, from the Legislative Seems to be better understood than it once was. Without this our Government is in danger of being a continual struggle between a Junto of Grandees, for the first Chair.
I find this extremely interesting: sepration of powers is implicit throughout the federal constitution, but never actually spelled out, as it is in every state constitution I’m familiar with. Some state courts have used this difference to build taller fences, as it were, between the branches of government at their level in comparison to what the feds have done.