Federalist Essays No. 10 and No. 51

The Federalist No. 10: The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection

"You take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens; or if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel it to discover their own strength, and to act in unison with each other."

Madison affirms that the formation of factions among free men is inevitable, and that, due to these factions, congruency in opinions among all men is unattainable. Having a larger republic allows for a system in which factions will attract more power, and, eventually, gain more power. However, as the size of a faction increases, there are bound to be further disagreements among its own members. In a sense, smaller factions within a main faction will form according to members' individual interests. Because the faction becomes less unified, its power is checked by these divisions. Citizens will begin to understand that they cannot always achieve what is in their own personal interest, and will seek representation that will benefit society as a whole.

"Each representative will be chosen by a greater number of citizens in the large than in the small republic, it will be more difficult for unworthy candidates to practice with success the vicious arts by which elections are too often carried; and the suffrages of the people being more free, will be more likely to centre in men who possess the most attractive merit and the most diffusive and established characters."

Madison highlights another benefit of the larger American system: more people have more candidates from which to chose. Citizens have come to understand the process by which their representatives are being elected and how to filter through the candidates with genuine intentions and those trying to take advantage of a position of power. This understanding, in part, can be attributed to the freedom of the citizens to have discussions and arguments and to share their opinions with one another. More exposure to different points of view and opinions leads citizens to make more educated decisions in selecting their representatives, thus, perpetuating the system in which personal interest does not always take precedence over actions that benefit the whole public.

The Federalist No. 51: The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments

"The interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places."

The American system of checks and balances is one that truly does allow the government to function as smoothly as it does. The organization of the separate branches protects the people from the possibility of one branch becoming too powerful and makes the concept of tyrannical rule almost inconceivable. Madison emphasizes the complete independence of each branch; with no involvement in one another's affairs, no biases can take place and the liberties of the people are guaranteed to be protected. In the specific case of the legislative branch, the House of Representatives and Senate are kept separate from each other, further preventing any one body from obtaining too much power.

"It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers, but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part. Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizens. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure." 

Madison continues to explore the concept of factions and their ability to come into and maintain power. Again, we see the benefits of larger groups of people and how that can prevent the domination of one specific majority group over other minority groups.