Why does the American form of government work?

James Madison, a government official who preferred a stricter interpretation of the Constitution, defined the ways in which the U.S government should regulate law and order in its citizens.

From Federalist Essay No. 10

1. Regulate and protect the distinct ideas that arise from each faction.

"The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties... The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation, and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of the government."

Madison defines "faction" as a group of citizens, often from different social classes, that have common interests or passion in their lives. It could be a minority or a majority group in the American society. He then states that the job of an efficient, working government should be to regulate these differences and protect them. His reasoning for this idea is that because Americans are people who fought tirelessly for liberty and voice, it is impractical for them to give up their freedom of expression regardless of differences in each other's opinions. Therefore, the American government would work only if they try to preserve each faction's interests however different they may be.

2. Representation in government legislature

"In the first place, it is to be remarked that, however small the republic may be, the representatives must be raised to a certain number, in order to guard against the cabals of a few; and that, however large it may be, they must be limited to a certain number, in order to guard against the confusion of a multitude... In the next place, as each representative will be chosen by a greater number of citizens in the large than in the small republic... the suffrages of the people being more free, will be more likely to centre in men who possess the most attractive merit and the most diffusive and established characters."

Madison expresses that in order for a government to work effectively, it needs to be republic that represents all of its citizens regardless of where they live. There should be a minimum and maximum cap on the number of people that would represent the area to have a fair amount of people voicing the concerns and ideas of each person. Additionally, every single representative in the federal government should be elected by most, if not all, of the population they are representing. Madison believes that these are the most important aspects of establishing a working government.

From Federalist Essay No. 51

1. Checks and balances

"... as all these exterior provisions are found to be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places."

Madison writes in this essay that the several branches and parts of the federal government should keep each other's power in check through balancing. For example, the judicial and executive branches would enforce the legislative power to solely do the job they were established for and to limit its exercised power if they do step over the designated line.

2. Keep to yourself

"it is evident that each department should have a will of its own; and consequently should be so constituted that the members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others."

Madison further suggests that the three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial, should appoint their own members and only their own; in other words, any of the branches should not possess the power to appoint other members not belonging to their own. This connects to his previous statement concerning the balance of power within the branches and it is essential to contain each power to their own assigned territory as much as possible.