In an effort to oblige the United States government to control itself, the Framers of the Constitution divided its legislative, executive, and judicial responsibilities into three distinct but inter-related branches. James Madison, the principal architect of the Constitution, viewed men as instruments of their own desires, and this Hobbesian understanding of human nature was the dominant one among participants at the Constitutional Convention. In the Framers' view, if ambitions for power remained unchecked, then public officials would expand their powers at the expense of the public good. The constitutionally mandated separation of powers and the various requirements for cooperation in national policy making among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government were written into the Constitution to minimize concentrations of power and the potential for the misuse of public office.

The Framers also added several specific provisions to limit the potential for conflicts of interest to color decision making by elected officials. One provision bars federal officials from accepting gifts, employments, or titles from foreign governments.