Why does the United States Government Function?

In his widely-known writings, James Madison outlined the premise of the United States government and explains why this new democratic republic will stand throughout time. In the first of the two papers, Federalist Paper 10, Madison explains how the government will preserve the rights of all regardless of the stark differences between factions.

"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, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community."


Madison starts by defining what a faction is and then explains to readers that these differences in opinions are simply unsolvable. The important part, instead, is to control these differences to ensure freedom and liberty for all. Madison explains that simple democracies would not solve the issues of factions, as those factions that hold a majority would trample across the minority. This idea is clearly expressed below.

"When a majority is included in a faction, the form of popular government, on the other hand, enables it to sacrifice to its ruling passion or interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens."

He instead explains that a republic in which the many elects the few would be the optimal government. Instead of allowing an entire populace to control the nation,Madison believes that the men who are elected will be good and moral citizens and would not sacrifice the good of the public. Thus, liberty and freedom can be preserved while simultaneously allowing for order and structure. 

"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."

Finally, Madison explains that the chance for those who look to destroy the good of the public or sacrifice for their own interests to be elected is very slim as the country has such a large magnitude. 

"The other point of difference is, the greater number of citizens and extent of territory which may be brought within the compass of republican than of democratic government; and it is this circumstance principally which renders factious combinations less to be dreaded in the former than in the latter."

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James Madison once again writes about the government in Federalist Paper 41. In this writing, he starts off by explaining the basic powers of the federal government.

"1. Security against foreign danger; 2. Regulation of the intercourse with foreign nations; 3. Maintenance of harmony and proper intercourse among the States; 4. Certain miscellaneous objects of general utility; 5. Restraint of the States from certain injurious acts; 6. Provisions for giving due efficacy to all these powers." 

Madison explains that the government derives power from the people and functions based on a  social contract - the people give up some freedoms in order for security and for the good of the public. For example, Madison utilizes the examples of a standing army and raising revenue to illustrate his point.

"America united, with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier, exhibits a more forbidding posture to foreign ambition than America disunited, with a hundred thousand veterans ready for combat."

Thus, Madison not only explains and delves into the balance and organization of power but also explains the theory behind giving said power to the federal government, giving readers a clearer understanding of the function of the US government.
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Finally, in Madison's Federal Paper #51, readers get an understanding of the importance of splitting powers. He starts off by discussing how independence is necessary for each branch as the ability to alter the composition or ability of another branch concentrates power in the hands of one department. This would create an unequal distribution causing the entire purpose of a balance of power to be voided.

As Madison explains,
"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; 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."

He, however, explains one stipulation regarding justices and explains that these must be appointed by the other branches to ensure that they are qualified and able. However, since they are nominated for life, they will not be susceptible to bias. Once again, we understand the limitation of power is in play. Madison then goes on to explain that the Constitution would work towards ensuring that encroachment of power between branches does not exist and would provide a framing for the departments. 

He explains this idea, " In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed, and in the next place oblige it to control itself. "

Madison continues on to affirm the idea that the federal government will protect against majority rule or as he equates it to, "anarchy." He explains that by splitting power, along with the diversity of the United States, any one faction gaining control of the government is highly improbable. He ends by explaining that the diversity and practicality of the American government will make it successful. 

"And happily, for the republican cause, the practicable sphere may be carried to a very great extent, by a judicious modification and mixture of the federal principle"
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As we look to answer the underlying question, "Why does the United States Federal Government Function?", we see that Madison, through just three of his essays, has given us a firm understanding of the answer. We first understand that the government is split into three main branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. These departments will act as checks on each other and thus split power and prevent the concentration of control in the hands of few. Furthermore, we see that in a democratic republic, the few are elected by the many, which not only ensures popular consent but also prevents factions of majority from acting without restraint. Finally, to ensure security, liberty and freedom of citizens are minimally repressed. Thus, a social contract is formed in which power protects the people. Conclusively, it is clear that Madison and the other founding fathers framed the government to function smoothly and as effectively as possible.