Federalist Essays # 10 &51

Federalist Essay #10 written by James Madison, explains that creating a well-constructed Union is a beneficial, because it has the ability to manage the destruction that factions can cause. Factions are dangerous, and that there are two ways to limit the damage that a faction can cause, which are to take away the cause of a faction, or to manage the destruction that a faction can cause. Although the first method, which is taking away liberty, is effective for treating the disease known as factions, "It could never be more truly said than of the first remedy, that it was worse than the disease". This means that taking away liberty is worse than the damage a faction could potentially cause. Then Madison goes on to explain the second method of combating factions which is "as impractical as the first would be unwise". This is because the second method would be essentially to control all citizens' thoughts and ideas in order to make it so that factions would not exist. Madison explains that for men, "As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other; and the former will be objects to which the latter will attach themselves". Madison shows that a Union is a very good form of government, that is good at controlling the negativity that factions will bring.

Federalist Essay #51 discusses what the new Union or Republic should look like. Madison explains that a good republic should have a separation of powers, being the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches. He says that the "constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other". This is because by having powers separated into different categories as we have today, there is less of a chance of one branch becoming excessively powerful, and making a faulty system of government. Madison says "that the members of each department should be as little dependent as possible on those of the others, for the emoluments annexed to their offices. Were the executive magistrate, or the judges, not independent of the legislature in this particular, their independence in every other would be merely nominal". This is saying that the three branches of power should be very independent and neutral, so that the government is fair with no bias whatsoever to the different processes. Madison has designed a system which creates as much equality as possible within the government system, and it is a success.

In summary, Madison explains the necessity of a Union because of its ability to deal with factions, and because it creates an equal system in which everyone can be happy. I believe that the American form of government that Madison has created works so well because of the two reasons raised above, and that Madison has created a solid system where power comes from the people, and cannot be unfairly used because of the systems set in place to create equality.