Why Does the American Form of Government Work?

Federalist Essay No. 10 

“Among the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. The friend of popular governments never finds himself so much alarmed for their character and fate, as when he contemplates their propensity to this dangerous vice.”

“The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good. So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities…”

Madison’s argument for Federalist Essay No. 10 is how a strong union or government prevents and controls a faction, specifically the power a republic has over a democracy. As shown by the first quote, he regards the faction as the vice to a government. He later describes factions to be, a number of citizens who are united by a political message. This essentially makes various factions political parties with differing stances. The motivations of these factions cannot be removed, so relief can only be found in controlling their effects. However, too many factions can lead to a chaotic environment in the country. Madison later describes how it is a Legislation’s job to regulate the differing interests from all these factions. Destroying factions would mean that people would lose the chance to voice their opinion, so that would be worse than the threat of a faction getting chaotic in the first place. He knew that people naturally had conflicting interests, so his plan was for the Constitution to check the power of factions by balancing one another. This ensured that, “the influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States.”

Federalist Essay No. 51 

“But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? 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 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. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”

“The remedy for this inconveniency is to divide the legislature into different branches; and to render them, by different modes of election and different principles of action, as little connected with each other as the nature of their common functions and their common dependence on the society will admit. “

In Federalist Essay No. 51, Madison argues for what will eventually become our modern day “checks and balance” system among the three branches of government. He speaks how the federal republic must not only be ready to uphold the laws of our society, but be ready to uphold the laws and morals in government. It’s clear from the first quote how Madison feels about people. He understands that people are not perfect “angels”, otherwise no government would be need to be put in place, and one must understand that problems will arise in government too. Splitting the branches of government makes sure that no one can rise above and take complete control over the country. Each branch of government has a will of its own, and they will have to ability to check on the other branches. Madison understands that in positions of power like government, people may abuse it. That is why an inner structure of different branches of powers keeps each other in their “proper places”. 

Why Does the U.S. Government Work?

The American government is known for being one of the strongest democracies on the planet.  But why does the U.S. government, with all its different branches and dependency on the people, work?  The ingenuity of our government can be traced back to the Federalist Papers, eighty one essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to defend and support the new Constitution, the backbone of the country's government.  Two in particular, Federalist Papers No.10 & 51, highlight some of the main components of the functionality of the American government.

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Federalist Paper No.10

"It is in vain to say that enlightened statesmen will be able to adjust these clashing interests, and render them all subservient to the public good. Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm. Nor, in many cases, can such an adjustment be made at all without taking into view indirect and remote considerations, which will rarely prevail over the immediate interest which one party may find in disregarding the rights of another or the good of the whole. The inference to which we are brought is, that the causes of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects."

"By enlarging too much the number of electors, you render the representatives too little acquainted with all their local circumstances and lesser interests; as by reducing it too much, you render him unduly attached to these, and too little fit to comprehend and pursue great and national objects. The federal Constitution forms a happy combination in this respect; the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local and particular to the State legislatures."

This paper, written by Madison, illustrates how the American government, instead of preventing parties and factions to be formed through revoking liberty and forcing people to conform to one belief, pacifies factions through curbing the effect they have on others.  Madison argues in this paper that majority factions endanger the rights and power of people in the minority, and, therefore, the government must stop this revocation of rights by taking action against dominant groups.  Because America was founded the idea of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" as written in the Declaration of Independence, the government is unable to initially stop factions from rising without either revoking the people's liberty and free speech or forcing them to think in one particular way, which both contradict the values of this country.  Madison then comes to the conclusion that "relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects", as controlling the people is not a valid option.  This guaranteed freedom of speech without fears of retribution is part of why the U.S. government works: people are satisfied that they can make their own choices and respect that the government respects their rights and liberties, creating a mutual appreciation between the two, creating a sustainable government.  Additionally, this paper displays how the structure of America's government, with its power split between state and national government, balances power based on particular interest.  The U.S. divides responsibilities between the two governments because both need to deal with different scenarios and conflicts.  As written by Madison, power is split as "the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local and particular to the State legislatures".  This divide in power allows for more precise governing, with each problem being addressed at a proper viewpoint, not one seat of government inexperienced in the size of the problem, making America's government function with a higher caliber of ruling.

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Federalist Paper No.51

"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 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."

"[Comprehending in the society so many separate descriptions of citizens as will render an unjust combination of a majority of the whole very improbable, if not impracticable] will be exemplified in the federal republic of the United States. Whilst all authority in it will be derived from and dependent on the society, the society itself will be broken into so many parts, interests, and classes of citizens, that the rights of individuals, or of the minority, will be in little danger from interested combinations of the majority."

Federalist Paper No.51 focuses on how the government uses checks and balances in order to even out power and how a society with different beliefs, experiences, and classes will protect the rights of everyone from an overbearing majority. The author (Madison or Hamilton) initially starts the paper with a description of how the government balances itself as its members make sure no one branch has more power than another.  He makes the arguement that because humans are not perfect like angels, they cannot be trusted to govern themselves without "internal controls on government".  This system of checks and balances in the government is a major component in the U.S. government's functionality, as it not only keeps anyone from overpowering the government and deviating it from a democracy, but it also does so while keeping the power in the hands of the people, a fundamental value of the democracy of America.  The author also reiterates how America avoids allowing on particular group become a majority and overpower others, which helps the government function properly.  In addition to the points made about factions in Federalist Paper No.10, this essay explains how, with all the parties, beliefs, etc. in the melting pot that is the United States, there is no one overpowering majority that will defeat other minorities and "the rights of individuals, or of the minority, will be in little danger from interested combinations of the majority."  Because there are so many interests of the people of America, the many components cancel out each other's power through equality of ideas, ensuring that no one's rights will be revoked because their ideas contradict those of an overpowering majority, sustaining the values of liberty of the United States and its government.

Why does the American form of government work?

#10   "No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity.With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time; yet what are many of the most important acts of legislation, but so many judicial determinations, not indeed concerning the rights of single persons, but concerning the rights of large bodies of citizens?"
"Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency."

In the quotes it is showing a new form of government coming into play that is playing a stable form into leading into independence. There is a great deal of evolution,now people are starting to get involved in there government and the decisions being made. The American government is now building up its law system and now getting involved with human rights that all humans have. We are also given essential pieces in noticing that freedom is being disturbed throughout the economy more people . But I chose these phases to show that the government is now noticing that there way of doing things were disorganized and now there becoming more stable and put into order and being with them contribution from the people of the states wanting to be involved.

#51    "A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions."
"Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit. In a society under the forms of which the stronger faction can readily unite and oppress the weaker, anarchy may as truly be said to reign as in a state of nature, where the weaker individual is not secured against the violence of the stronger; and as, in the latter state, even the stronger individuals are prompted, by the uncertainty of their condition, to submit to a government which may protect the weak as well as themselves; so, in the former state, will the more powerful factions or parties be gradually induced, by a like motive, to wish for a government which will protect all parties, the weaker as well as the more powerful."

Here, it is a sense of precocious behavior the government is trying to become more open and let people come and have a say but the trust is loose. Also they are trying to fix the problems of unfairness favoring the rich over the poverty not anymore, equal rights are being build to bring a fairness. This helps also to show that all the voices are being heard. These quotes show that they do not just want the government making all the rules bringing law and order they also want the people contributing in making a difference making sure everyone has a say not just the more fortunate. The government re-presence the people and without the people it would crumble. The government is not self sufficient it depends on the state to run it and not become dominant and control everything.

Why does the American form of government work?

Essay No. 10
"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 emphasizes the importance of society's diversity. It demonstrates an example of how embracing a community's differences and disagreements can bring about unity when the government runs off of the popular vote of the people. Thus the nation runs its states off of the common consensus and works towards achieving the interests of the majority of the community.

"If a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is supplied by the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its sinister views by regular vote. It may clog the administration, it may convulse the society; but it will be unable to execute and mask its violence under the forms of the Constitution. 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. 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. Let me add that it is the great desideratum by which this form of government can be rescued from the opprobrium under which it has so long labored, and be recommended to the esteem and adoption of mankind."
The presence of a social hierarchy is too strong to demolish, thus the establishment of a popular government brought success to the nations, for it allowed the word of the common man to outweigh that of the more important elites in their society.

Essay No. 51
"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."
Madison is establishing that governments run off of the inevitable corruption of human beings – humans naturally make mistakes and are far from being considered "angels". Subsequently, the government can help society through its implementation of laws and rules to maintain order within the 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; 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. Were this principle rigorously adhered to, it would require that all the appointments for the supreme executive, legislative, and judiciary magistracies should be drawn from the same fountain of authority, the people, through channels having no communication whatever with one another."
Being a strong believer in strict order, Madison wished to turn the states into a well functioning nation with the help of a complicated and intricate system. He needed to establish separate branches in certain departments in order to lay a stable foundation for a strong, centralized government. This will lead to helping more people with different views and interests, instead of focusing on just one elite group. The presence of multiple government branches would allow them to represent a larger body.

The American form of government works because it is fixed on helping a large array of people, therefore it is able to provide to the majority of people's interests and needs.

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.

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.

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.