When asked why our government works, we have to look back to the ideas and ideals of the people that created the country. The documents from the birth of the nation in particular are some of the most descriptive pieces that justify why this system will work over the commonly known British political system. Even through the extremely verbose and more archaic language of these two essays of the later 18th century, there are a few points that stand out clearly which explain exactly why the American government still stays strong.
From the tenth Federalist essay, Madison writes:
"The effect of the first difference [between a democracy and a republic] is, on the one hand, to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations. Under such a regulation, it may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose."
In this excerpt, Madison explain the key differences between a democracy and republic in terms of their raw definitions. He tells why a representative government works on a large scale. By saying that these representatives, chosen by the people, are able to make decisions for the good of the country, Madison shows his stronger feeling of trust in representatives than than in the people themselves because he believes that these people will end up making a majority decision on the best plan of action. In other words, our government works because we are able to choose people to represent our ideas. The best people suited for the jobs of representing general population are voted into office because these are the ones who are most patriotic and most willing to be secure the public good.
Madison follows his spiel of the importance of a representative government with the following quote:
"The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States. A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source. A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project, will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the Union than a particular member of it; in the same proportion as such a malady is more likely to taint a particular county or district, than an entire State."
With this statement, Madison is able to explain how, even with the freedom of thought, states are able to stay out of violence with each other even with rivaling ideas. He explains that, due to the variety of sections and ideas, the nation will not fall into a state of utter chaos. Since everybody is able to share their ideas and not everybody will be overly radical or conservative, Madison argues that a middle ground will always be reached, and no one particular movement will taint the entire country. Any upset is going to stay pretty local or centralized in one certain spot rather than spreading. He argues that our government works for this reason. Because all people will balance each other out, country wide fighting is very unlikely to ensue just because of two differing viewpoints between two people, two cities, or even two states.
In the Federalist Essay 51, Madison writes:
"In republican government, the legislative authority necessarily predominates. The remedy for this inconveniency is to divide the legislature into different branches; and to render them, by different modes of election and different principles of action, as little connected with each other as the nature of their common functions and their common dependence on the society will admit. It may even be necessary to guard against dangerous encroachments by still further precautions. As the weight of the legislative authority requires that it should be thus divided, the weakness of the executive may require, on the other hand, that it should be fortified."
Here, Madison speaks of the branches of government and the efficacy of splitting the power up between multiple groups. He explains how, in a usual republican government, the legislative branch would receive the most power because they are the ones that can make the laws. However, he states that he wants to break that in the American system by splitting the powers up even more, giving equal weight and authority to each branch. The reason why this will work is so that each branch will be able to balance the other out, fortifying each ones' opinion against each other equally. By protecting the government from internal strife, Madison argues that this system of government manages to strike a long lasting balance, running into minimal problems.
In Madison's final paragraph of the 51st essay, he writes:
"The second method will be exemplified in the federal republic of the United States. Whilst all authority in it will be derived from and dependent on the society, the society itself will be broken into so many parts, interests, and classes of citizens, that the rights of individuals, or of the minority, will be in little danger from interested combinations of the majority. In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. It consists in the one case in the multiplicity of interests, and in the other in the multiplicity of sects. The degree of security in both cases will depend on the number of interests and sects; and this may be presumed to depend on the extent of country and number of people comprehended under the same government."
Finally, Madison ties up his essay by talking about the importance of freedom of the individual in running the country. He explains that the power will come from the people, and the rights of the minority will be equal to that of the majority, which is not allowed to override them to begin with. The rights of each person must be respected equally since the country will contain many sects and divisions and differences. By doing this, Madison believes that people will be able to eagerly and happily live in America due to the security in expressing one's own beliefs. Our government works for this reason. The people are able to feel protected under a political system that values the individual and doesn't always follow the majority, rather the individual and his or her ideas.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Federalist Essays
Why does the American form of government work?
According to the Federalist Essay #10, factions in the government are dangerous but inevitable. Madison defines a faction as a party of people "who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens." There are two ways of removing these factions, the first one is to eliminate the cause by either destroying liberty which is absurd because it is a necessity in the political life or giving everyone the same ideas which is also illogical because opinions will always be formed no matter how different they are from each other. So that leaves us to the second method, controlling the effects of factions. The formation of a union consisting of different representatives will help balance out the weight of the conflicting factions. This republican union is completely different from a pure democracy because, according to Madison, "a common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole... and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual." Meanwhile, a republic can bring a semblance of control through a balance of differing opinions and ideas which could hinder the expansion of a common cause, brought on by a faction consisting of the majority, that would most likely not benefit the whole nation. This continues on to the Federalist Essay #51 in which Madison ties it all up with a proposal of a format of a government consisting of mostly independent branches to assure a check in power. To guarantee such independency, each branch must have its own will and little involvement in the process of choosing who can be a part of the other branches as well as the distribution of salary. In result, "the different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself."
The American form of government works because of its representative structure that even out the concentration of beliefs and its ability to maintain separate offices that are not entirely dependent on each other in order to function properly and restrain from getting too ambitious. However, the real question is to what extent does this type of government work in the present day? The Federalist Essays outline the ideal government but does it address and solve the current problems such as police brutality and involvement in foreign conflicts?
According to the Federalist Essay #10, factions in the government are dangerous but inevitable. Madison defines a faction as a party of people "who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens." There are two ways of removing these factions, the first one is to eliminate the cause by either destroying liberty which is absurd because it is a necessity in the political life or giving everyone the same ideas which is also illogical because opinions will always be formed no matter how different they are from each other. So that leaves us to the second method, controlling the effects of factions. The formation of a union consisting of different representatives will help balance out the weight of the conflicting factions. This republican union is completely different from a pure democracy because, according to Madison, "a common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole... and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual." Meanwhile, a republic can bring a semblance of control through a balance of differing opinions and ideas which could hinder the expansion of a common cause, brought on by a faction consisting of the majority, that would most likely not benefit the whole nation. This continues on to the Federalist Essay #51 in which Madison ties it all up with a proposal of a format of a government consisting of mostly independent branches to assure a check in power. To guarantee such independency, each branch must have its own will and little involvement in the process of choosing who can be a part of the other branches as well as the distribution of salary. In result, "the different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself."
The American form of government works because of its representative structure that even out the concentration of beliefs and its ability to maintain separate offices that are not entirely dependent on each other in order to function properly and restrain from getting too ambitious. However, the real question is to what extent does this type of government work in the present day? The Federalist Essays outline the ideal government but does it address and solve the current problems such as police brutality and involvement in foreign conflicts?
The Federalist Essays
In the Federalist Essay #10, James Madison argues that the biggest threat to a democratic government is the existence of political parties. These groups—factions, as he calls them—are "united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens." In other words, factions supported by a majority of the population could overpower and oppress the minority, negating the equality-driven intentions of a democracy. The solution for this, Madison declares, is to create a republican government in which a select few are chosen to represent the wishes of the entire populace. By implementing such a system, the majority's opinions would be passed through a sort of filter to "refine and enlarge the public views" so as to ensure that they are "more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves." Through a republican government like that suggested by Madison, the United States is able to adhere to the majority's desires while still recognizing the voices of the minority in order to provide for the common good of all Americans.
In Madison's Federalist Essay #51, he addresses the issue of separation of powers to prevent any one branch of government from assuming supreme control. To make sure the appointment process remains uncorrupted, "each department should have a will of its own" and "as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others." The duties of each branch will not overlap, and it will be impossible for one branch to circumvent the other two when making decisions regarding the nation. Madison states that this is an effective method because humans' innate thirst for power will motivate each branch to put a check on the others—"[a]mbition must be made to counteract ambition." Madison further asserts that the United States is unique when it comes to levels of separation in government, due to its split between not only between legislative, executive, and judiciary branches, but between state and federal administrations as well. This dual partition provides increased security of Americans' rights by making it more difficult for any specific branch to abuse its power and take advantage of its citizens.
According to Madison, the government present in the United States is a distinct and effective one. Because of its republican nature, all citizens have a say in important decisions, yet the majority is prevented from suppressing the minority. In addition, the separation of powers between different branches, combined with the duality of state and federal governments, ensures that no group of individuals can undermine any other. These key aspects of the American system of government foster the liberties of its people and allow the nation to thrive as a symbol of democratic ideals.
In Madison's Federalist Essay #51, he addresses the issue of separation of powers to prevent any one branch of government from assuming supreme control. To make sure the appointment process remains uncorrupted, "each department should have a will of its own" and "as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others." The duties of each branch will not overlap, and it will be impossible for one branch to circumvent the other two when making decisions regarding the nation. Madison states that this is an effective method because humans' innate thirst for power will motivate each branch to put a check on the others—"[a]mbition must be made to counteract ambition." Madison further asserts that the United States is unique when it comes to levels of separation in government, due to its split between not only between legislative, executive, and judiciary branches, but between state and federal administrations as well. This dual partition provides increased security of Americans' rights by making it more difficult for any specific branch to abuse its power and take advantage of its citizens.
According to Madison, the government present in the United States is a distinct and effective one. Because of its republican nature, all citizens have a say in important decisions, yet the majority is prevented from suppressing the minority. In addition, the separation of powers between different branches, combined with the duality of state and federal governments, ensures that no group of individuals can undermine any other. These key aspects of the American system of government foster the liberties of its people and allow the nation to thrive as a symbol of democratic ideals.
Why Does the American Form of Government Work?
Federalist No. 10:
Federalist Essay Number 10 states that one reason why our federal government works is because "the regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation." The interests being referred to in this quote are those of the factions of society, groups of people joined together by a common interest. Controlling the effects of the factions are essential to maintaining a successful government because if a faction gains too much power against the government, the government can be at risk for a rebellion. The effects of factions are most easily controlled by a republic, a body of representatives elected by the people that make decisions for the country. This is an extremely valid system because it controls the factions while still allowing the people to feel as though they are contributing and that their rights are not being taken away. Representatives are also more likely to make decisions based on the needs of the community, whereas if everyone had a say, such as in a democracy, some may act out of self interest only. The United States government is certainly a form of a republic, for the people of this nation vote for elected representatives to make our legislative decisions.
Madison also argues in this essay that a larger republic is better than a smaller one, for worthy representatives are more likely to get elected by a large group of people than a smaller one. In other words, it is easier to manipulate a small group of people into voting for a representative who is only going to act out of self interest; however, it is increasingly more difficult to convince a large group of people that someone who should not represent the people is worthy of being elected. A larger republic also provides more diversity, which results in a lower chance of big, strong factions. The smaller and less powerful the factions are, the better for the government because their safety from resistance is almost guaranteed. When applying this concept of a larger republic to the United States, Madison reasoned that all of the states working together as a whole creates a more cohesive government than the individual state governments would. The United States government is not only successful because it is a republic, which controls the effects of the factions, but because it is a coalition of all of the different states.
Federalist No. 51:
Federalist Essay Number 51 stresses the importance the system of checks and balances has on our federal government. While discussing the different branches of government, Madison discusses that the checks and balances work because, "the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachment of others." In other words, the current system of checks in balances in place for the United States government prevents one of the branches from becoming too greedy for power by giving each branch enough to keep them satisfied. For example, one could easily argue that the legislative branch is the most important branch of the three. By separating the legislative branch into a bicameral legislature, it slightly diminishes the legislative branch's power, leaving the other two branches less threatened. Also, the executive branch could easily be circumvented had it not been for the power of veto granted to the president. These are examples of "special powers" granted to each of the three branches to maintain their satisfaction and keep the system of checks and balances equal. This also prevents any of the departments from becoming dependent upon one another. Each branch is able to handle its own matters without the interference of another branch because another department does not have the liberty to do so. The United States government is successful because it has a very effective system of checks and balances in place.
Federalist Essay Number 10 states that one reason why our federal government works is because "the regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation." The interests being referred to in this quote are those of the factions of society, groups of people joined together by a common interest. Controlling the effects of the factions are essential to maintaining a successful government because if a faction gains too much power against the government, the government can be at risk for a rebellion. The effects of factions are most easily controlled by a republic, a body of representatives elected by the people that make decisions for the country. This is an extremely valid system because it controls the factions while still allowing the people to feel as though they are contributing and that their rights are not being taken away. Representatives are also more likely to make decisions based on the needs of the community, whereas if everyone had a say, such as in a democracy, some may act out of self interest only. The United States government is certainly a form of a republic, for the people of this nation vote for elected representatives to make our legislative decisions.
Madison also argues in this essay that a larger republic is better than a smaller one, for worthy representatives are more likely to get elected by a large group of people than a smaller one. In other words, it is easier to manipulate a small group of people into voting for a representative who is only going to act out of self interest; however, it is increasingly more difficult to convince a large group of people that someone who should not represent the people is worthy of being elected. A larger republic also provides more diversity, which results in a lower chance of big, strong factions. The smaller and less powerful the factions are, the better for the government because their safety from resistance is almost guaranteed. When applying this concept of a larger republic to the United States, Madison reasoned that all of the states working together as a whole creates a more cohesive government than the individual state governments would. The United States government is not only successful because it is a republic, which controls the effects of the factions, but because it is a coalition of all of the different states.
Federalist No. 51:
Federalist Essay Number 51 stresses the importance the system of checks and balances has on our federal government. While discussing the different branches of government, Madison discusses that the checks and balances work because, "the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachment of others." In other words, the current system of checks in balances in place for the United States government prevents one of the branches from becoming too greedy for power by giving each branch enough to keep them satisfied. For example, one could easily argue that the legislative branch is the most important branch of the three. By separating the legislative branch into a bicameral legislature, it slightly diminishes the legislative branch's power, leaving the other two branches less threatened. Also, the executive branch could easily be circumvented had it not been for the power of veto granted to the president. These are examples of "special powers" granted to each of the three branches to maintain their satisfaction and keep the system of checks and balances equal. This also prevents any of the departments from becoming dependent upon one another. Each branch is able to handle its own matters without the interference of another branch because another department does not have the liberty to do so. The United States government is successful because it has a very effective system of checks and balances in place.
Federalist Essays #10 & #51
Why Does the American Form of Government Work?
The American model of government is effective for many reasons. It has modified past forms of faulty governments to come up with a unique and strong-willed system. Its intrinsic qualities, derived from Enlightenment thinkers, including a three branched government, checks and balances, and guarantee of inalienable rights make it the durable and lasting government it has been since its indoctrination in 1788 all the way to the present day. Several Federalist Essays by James Madison examine and analyze the nature of the newly formed American government, and ultimately elaborate on how and why America’s new government is strong.
Federalist Essay #10 - The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
“The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into the public councils, have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have everywhere perished; as they continue to be the favorite and fruitful topics from which the adversaries to liberty derive their most specious declamations. The valuable improvements made by the American constitutions on the popular models, both ancient and modern, cannot certainly be too much admired; but it would be an unwarrantable partiality, to contend that they have as effectually obviated the danger on this side, as was wished and expected.”
In this excerpt of James Madison’s tenth federalist essay, he references the “mortal diseases” that have caused popular governments of past nation-states to fall. He explains these as being “instability, injustice, and confusion” that have plagued governments. One reason the American government was successful and long lasting was its ability to learn from the mistakes of past forms of government and legislatures. Madison confirms this notion when he mentions “the valuable improvements made by the American constitutions on popular models.”
“There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects.
There are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests.”
James Madison also focuses a great deal on factions, or political parties, and his opinion on their effects on a nation. He believes that they are motivated by their own self interest and can sometimes conflict with the public need. He thinks that the factions and their effects must be curbed, and deliberates this when he writes about “the two methods of curing mischiefs of faction.” The political parties of America, both liberal and conservative, were trademarks of the government during that age, whether or not they were actually beneficial to the public. Their existence proved how far the inalienable rights and liberties secured by the Constitution existed, thus showing the freedoms to be a crucial part to the working machine that was and is the American government.
Federalist Essay #51 - The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments
“In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.”
In this essay, James Madison focuses on the checks and balances between the three branches of government in America. Through this piece, he conveys one of the core reasons for why American government is effective: it is not a monarchy. He suggests the importance of separation of powers with checks when he elaborates on the exact distribution of power when given by the people to the government, stating “the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments” and then going a level further by talking about the “separate departments” the governments are broken down into. This is a unique facet of American government, and one that has proved to be effective for hundreds of years, as it still is in effect today, as it is in many other countries that have adopted American government styles.
“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.”
Here, Madison not only mentions the several departments the government is divided into, but also discusses the separation of power between the departments. He stresses the importance of checks and balances by using language such as “guard one part of society against the injustice of the other part.” Madison uses such strong dictation in order to indicate the gravity of his words. This stress is well placed, as this portion of the US government is an important one that sets it apart from the past failed models. When saying that it is important to “guard the society against the oppression of its rulers,” Madison sets America apart from the monarchy of Britain that oppressed its colonies for so many years. America’s independence and growth from a monarchical state is what led to its governmental strength.
Federalist Essays No. 10 & No. 51
Question: Why does the American form of government work?
The American form of government works because it is a democratic republic and it has different branches that can "check and balance" each other.
Madison argues in Federalist #10 by setting up a republican, rather than a "pure democratic," government, the different factions that are inevitably formed by people can check and be checked by each other, and coexist. Pure democracy and republicanism differ, as the former depicts people as the representatives and the latter, representatives for the people. Madison realized that the power of factions often clumped together to make the majority, thus often ruling out the minority and causing major conflict in the government. If factions, which were usually divided by how much land and wealth one had, could "control [their] effects" through the republican government, then they would not need to be destroyed (which Madison states would be impossible anyway). However, for the people's best interests, the representatives in the republic should be elected by the people in order to truly represent all factions. This democratic republic is the supposed structure of our US government today.
In Federalist #51, Madison expands greatly on an idea he brings up in #10: the splitting of government into branches and the checking and balancing of them by one another. The branches should each "have a will of its own...and have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others." No branch should fully depend on each other, but they should also not be completely independent. As quoted from Madison, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." Humans most definitely are not angels, especially when handed power, and the concept of checks and balances makes it so that no one branch/department will ever accumulate absolute power. However, because the United States is so large, even in a republic setting, the security of a balance in power can be easily threatened. The double security of having both federal and state governments comes into play: "The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself." Now, the complex network of the double democratic republic secures all factions' representation.
The democratic republic and system of checks and balances has proved to serve the US government well in the past few centuries. Yet still it seems that there is still a slight problem in representing the minority successfully, whether it is income level or race. However, the US government has maintained (and continues to do so) the American values of liberty well enough that today the country is an influential superpower, best known for opportunities and freedom.
The American form of government works because it is a democratic republic and it has different branches that can "check and balance" each other.
Madison argues in Federalist #10 by setting up a republican, rather than a "pure democratic," government, the different factions that are inevitably formed by people can check and be checked by each other, and coexist. Pure democracy and republicanism differ, as the former depicts people as the representatives and the latter, representatives for the people. Madison realized that the power of factions often clumped together to make the majority, thus often ruling out the minority and causing major conflict in the government. If factions, which were usually divided by how much land and wealth one had, could "control [their] effects" through the republican government, then they would not need to be destroyed (which Madison states would be impossible anyway). However, for the people's best interests, the representatives in the republic should be elected by the people in order to truly represent all factions. This democratic republic is the supposed structure of our US government today.
In Federalist #51, Madison expands greatly on an idea he brings up in #10: the splitting of government into branches and the checking and balancing of them by one another. The branches should each "have a will of its own...and have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others." No branch should fully depend on each other, but they should also not be completely independent. As quoted from Madison, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." Humans most definitely are not angels, especially when handed power, and the concept of checks and balances makes it so that no one branch/department will ever accumulate absolute power. However, because the United States is so large, even in a republic setting, the security of a balance in power can be easily threatened. The double security of having both federal and state governments comes into play: "The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself." Now, the complex network of the double democratic republic secures all factions' representation.
The democratic republic and system of checks and balances has proved to serve the US government well in the past few centuries. Yet still it seems that there is still a slight problem in representing the minority successfully, whether it is income level or race. However, the US government has maintained (and continues to do so) the American values of liberty well enough that today the country is an influential superpower, best known for opportunities and freedom.
Why does the American form of Government Work?
The author of Federalist Essay No. 10 argues that republicanism, not democracy, will result in the best form of government. The author writes,
“A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”
Everyone has different ideas and opinions, and it’s impossible to demand everyone to think a certain way and expect them to just go along with it. In a democracy, when it comes to making choices based on “majority rules,” decisions are usually focused toward granting a majority’s shared personal interest rather than promoting the greater good of the entire community as a whole. Democracy would eventually split the country apart with all its “turbulence and contention” (definitely something the founding fathers wanted to avoid). However, in a republic, which will
“refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations. Under such a regulation, it may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose.”
Everyone (except if you’re under 18) still gets a say in government. However, by having everyone’s public views represented by a smaller, elect groups, decisions are less likely to be centered around personal interests, but rather around what’s best for the country.
“A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”
Everyone has different ideas and opinions, and it’s impossible to demand everyone to think a certain way and expect them to just go along with it. In a democracy, when it comes to making choices based on “majority rules,” decisions are usually focused toward granting a majority’s shared personal interest rather than promoting the greater good of the entire community as a whole. Democracy would eventually split the country apart with all its “turbulence and contention” (definitely something the founding fathers wanted to avoid). However, in a republic, which will
“refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations. Under such a regulation, it may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose.”
Everyone (except if you’re under 18) still gets a say in government. However, by having everyone’s public views represented by a smaller, elect groups, decisions are less likely to be centered around personal interests, but rather around what’s best for the country.
The author of Federalist Essay No. 51, who could just be the same guy or guys that wrote Federalist Essay No. 10, explains the necessity in having a separation of powers.
“It is equally evident, 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. But the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others. The provision for defense must in this, as in all other cases, be made commensurate to the danger of attack. Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government.”
Dividing the powers into smaller groups that check each other will, again, greatly reduce the likelihood of decisions being centered around personal interests. This is
“particularly displayed in all the subordinate distributions of power, where 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 that the private interest of every individual may be a sentinel over the public rights. These inventions of prudence cannot be less requisite in the distribution of the supreme powers of the State...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.”
“It is equally evident, 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. But the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others. The provision for defense must in this, as in all other cases, be made commensurate to the danger of attack. Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government.”
Dividing the powers into smaller groups that check each other will, again, greatly reduce the likelihood of decisions being centered around personal interests. This is
“particularly displayed in all the subordinate distributions of power, where 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 that the private interest of every individual may be a sentinel over the public rights. These inventions of prudence cannot be less requisite in the distribution of the supreme powers of the State...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.”
A republican form of government and a separation of powers both focus on dividing up powers into smaller and smaller groups, with the main goal being the generation of just decisions that will benefit the country as a whole. Since America’s government runs on these ideas of a republic and a separation of powers, the American form of government has worked even to this day. But like every other government in the world, it's not perfect, and there's still room for improvement.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)