The Federalist Articles #10 and #51

In The Federalist: No. 10, James Madison argues that a society would crumble due to the existences of factions within a government. Factions are created by the thousands of differences between people, from salary to housing to political groups. These small discrepancies can cause huge gaps between people. However, in the American government there are many ways of controlling these gaps. For example, the government does their best to find compromises in situations as to not create major conflicts.  Tax breaks are a way that they currently separate people based on earnings in order to fairly tax everyone a reasonable amount. Another way that the American government is by controlling violence. They are in charge of the legality of crimes and the punishment that will be enforced upon the offender. By doing this they are showing their power and also setting an example to others that are definite consequences to actions. This creates a more peaceful environment for people in separate factions. Overall, the US government uses their understanding of the differences in factions to create a functioning system.

No. 51 of The Federalist, Madison explains the importance of independence of the branches of government and the reliance they have on one another. The three branches, legislative, judicial, and executive, all rely on one another to appoint or determine salaries for each other. The reasons that these powers have been granted to other branches is into keep the balance between them. This has proven to be very practical in the American government. because all the branches know that based on their decisions for the others their lives will be affected, so everyone is always sure to make fair choices. The American system allows for this to happen because it would be unreasonable to give all these options to the people, as it would be in a true democracy, because people would not be well enough informed to make the right decisions in many cases. Especially involving the judicial branches, because the judges need to be impartial, but people would tend to vote for people that sided in the same ways as their own opinions.  All in all, it is paramount that the branches of government are independent, because it allows for balance in America.