Why does the American Form of Government Work?

These Federalist essays No. 10 and No. 51 by James Madison both answer the question of why the american form of government works. Essay No. 10 talks about how America is a land where diverse opinions are respected and all voices can be heard. It explains that by people having different opinions of how the government should be run, the government can be shaped in a way that suits everyone. An example of this is found in federalist essay No. 10, it says "By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community." This quote shows that America is about representing everyone and letting different minority groups have their voice heard. Another passage in Essay No. 10 states "Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires." This passage states that without freedoms, some, but not all voices are heard in government. Without all voices heard in government, then the government will not be shaped in the way that applies to all people. Madison uses the metaphor "Without air a fire cannot breathe" which depicts the air as the voice of the people and the fire as the government. A fire cannot survive without air being applied to it and keeping it up.

Essay No. 51 explains the process of self-government, that all ideas are represented in government, and demands of different minority groups are acknowledged. It also talks about the idea of separate governments, so that different regions can have different laws that apply to the people of that region. In the passage, Madison says "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary." In this passage, Madison is explaining that since not all men are perfect human beings, it is necessary for them to be ruled upon by a government with law and order, which helps shape a civil society where all voices can be respected and laws can be created that apply to everyone. Finally in No. 51, Madison states, “In order to lay a due foundation for that separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government, which to a certain extent is admitted on all hands to be essential to the preservation of liberty, it is evident that each department should have a will of its own.” In this passage, Madison is explaining the importance of checks and balances on the rights and values of the people. He is saying that by not having one part of the government dominate the power, the laws and changes that the government makes will have influence from a range of values before being released.