Why Does the American Form of Government Work?

Federal Essay No. 10: "The effect of the first difference 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."

This section of Federal Essay No. 10 highlights why the adoption of a republic form of government is more favorable than a fully democratic one. One of the main threats to the security of a completely democratic government was that factions would, in some cases, have the majority vote. This is seen as a dangerous privilege that needs to be addressed, and the writer of the tenth essay proposes a Republic instead. He contrasts both types of government and states that with a Republic, the common people still have a say, but there are also other controls over legislation that better educated individuals would have. These individuals would in theory represent the people, as they would be elected by them, and they would provide a filter of sorts over the opinion of people, keeping public interest and the security of the country in mind. This would create a more regulated and secure form of government while still keeping democratic ideals that the country had been built on.

Federal Essay No. 15: "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. Second. 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."

This section of the 15th essay concerns itself with the importance of a balance of power within the government and why it is so important. The power of the people is placed in the hands of the government bodies, and it is their job to represent the people in the most just and efficient way possible. This includes having a distinction and separation of interests between branches of government and their respective subdivisions. Additionally, autonomous branches of government regulate the behavior of the others using the checks and balances system. Ultimately, this creates a more regulated and stable government from within.