Federalist Essays: Why does the American form of government work?

Julia Suh
08/28/14

The American form of government is successful for two main reasons: it operates as a republic and, within the republic, different branches of government check the other branches' power.

The Federalist Essay #10 explains why the republic is successful, and why a democracy would fail in the United States (and why it would fail elsewhere).  Though a democracy seems like the best course for government, as all of the people have a direct say, James Madison argues that "a pure democracy ... can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction." He means that when a faction (a group of people dominated by an idea) consists of the majority of the people, the remainder of the people have no power to restrain the dominating faction. Therefore this faction can make terrible decisions; its own bias towards its ideas prevents it from seeing what is good for the entire country. For example, if the majority is Catholic, then they could legalize the persecution of all non-Catholics. Because the Catholics are blinded by their own ideas, they cannot see that the persecution of the minority is not the best for the country. Luckily, a republic balances the ideas of general will and the good of the people. A republic is the "delegation of the government...to a small number of citizens elected by the rest." This elected group may "refine and enlarge the public views" and "whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country." These well-educated people, honored with the power to govern, are trusted by the people to analyze the pros and cons of public views and emerge with the best course of action for the country. Additionally, Madison argues that for a republic to work, the pool of candidates must be large enough for the people to elect those "who possess the most attractive merit" so that it is "more difficult for unworthy candidates to practice with success the vicious arts by which elections are too often carried." Madison shows that this must happen at the state and national level so that the national government may deal with "great and aggregate interests" and the state can pick up issues "local and particular to the state." This way the interests of local groups of people can be represented accurately.

In the Federalist Essay #51, Madison argues for the balance of power by having multiple branches of government. He wrote 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" and that "each department should be as little dependent as possible on those of the others." Finally, he argues that because the legislative branch of government will naturally have more power than the others because of its duties, the legislative branch should also be split into different groups.

And so Madison accurately describes why our government works. The power is derived from the people, but the people do not directly control the government. Instead, level-headed politicians govern with the best interests of the country in mind. Each politician keeps an eye on each of the other politicians, and each branch of government can balance the other branches. This way not one "faction" can manipulate the government. The American government is designed like Madison's ideal government (after all, he was a founding father).

Our government succeeded, succeeds, and will succeed because of one ideal: freedom. Madison perfectly summarized this when he wrote, "Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit."