Why does the American form of government work?

  Why does the American form of government work?

By Sohail Sethi, Period 1

       The American democratic government is a widely praised system, known for promoting liberty and justice for all. Yet how does this complex system of government work? In James Madison's Federalist Papers No. 10, he states, "To secure the public good and private rights against the danger of such a faction, and at the same time to preserve the spirit and the form of popular government, is then the great object to which our inquiries are directed." It is through this phrase that Madison articulates that in order for America to succeed, it must remain a democracy, where the majority will always triumph. Madison states that when the majority is in charge, America's future will be secure as the American people have incentives to ensure the continued practices of liberty and freedom, as this is what always allowed America to thrive. Madison also argues that in a democratic society the majority rules, and even if the minority does not have a say, all Americans must obey the common law, as it is through the decision of the majority to pass legislation, that a citizen grants their approval, as the citizen is the one who voted for the political leaders.

Madison also argues, in the Federalist Papers No. 10, that diversity is key in America through the phrase, " Extend the sphere, and 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." In this phrase, Madison reasons that if America maintains a place where only wealthy Virginian farmers are citizens, then the leaders they vote for will no longer work for the good of the American peoples, but rather for their own individual gain. However, by encompassing a larger group of people, more and more opinions are shared and represented through the democratic elections. It is through this sentence that Madison sets one of the founding reasons of why the American democratic government is so impressive, as it allows thousands of different views to coexist, allowing all views to have a chance at leadership.

The American government is comprised of several departments and political offices. James Madison understands this and argues in his Federalist Papers No. 51 that, "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." Madison argues the importance of a key American political idea, the separation of powers, for as he states a judge in charge of the legislature would make it so that every freedom is useless in power. By having a separation of powers, the American government ensures that not one political entity can grow to powerful. This is evidenced in modern day America, as the President of the U.S. is the Commander and Chief of the armed services, but cannot declare war without the Congress. By having numerous political entities individual of each other, the system automatically protects itself from corrupted officials.

Madison also argues that rights must be the same for all citizens through the nation through the phrase, "In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights." It is through this passage that Madison argues religious freedom and toleration for all, and by doing so he opens the new nation to people of different backgrounds. By doing so, he expands the power of the American institution as more views and cultures have opportunities to be represented, thereby limiting the probability of corrupt officials and a flawed system.

In conclusion, to answer the question of, Why does the American form of government work, one can cite Madison's Federalist Papers, specifically No. 10 and 51. The American form of government works for the simple reasons that the Constitution and the political offices were designed to represent the people's majority views, no matter what they may be, as by doing so everyone is subject to the same laws, but everyone has a right to control the laws, through the election of political officials. So, simply put, the American democratic government works because it is a "government for the people, by the people."