Why Does the American form of Government work?

“Liberty is to faction what air is to fire…” (James Madison).

In the “Federalist Paper #10,” James Madison discusses how a nation is composed of many different “factions.”  This is especially true in America--we are a nation that is composed of many small groups that have different economic, religious, and political goals. In the above quote, Madison says that people need to have liberty in order to be able to join into different group aligned along common interests. Liberty is fuel to factions because without freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, and freedom to strive for change, there can be no factions. It is in this liberty that these factions have the ability to fulfill their own interests and desires.

However, fire is an apt metaphor.  Fire in controlled environments for directed purposes yields many benefits--light and warmth. But, fire that rages out of control, that becomes too big and unruly, is dangerous and destructive.  Implied within Madison’s statement is that factions are beneficial, but wild fires with no purpose or with malevolent purposes can burn many.  It is important, therefore, that these factions have at their core constructive purposes and altruistic values.  Having factions just for the sake of factions may not be ultimately beneficial to a society.  Instead, a society needs cohesive groups, of sufficient numbers, wanting to help direct a nation toward greater good. It is important that these factions are not to small, because numerous small fires are not productive and can be just as damaging as a few large fires.  If the size of the fires are reasonable, these fires can be productive and lead the nation down a good path. The American form of government works because it helps direct the fires and can act as a firewall in times of need.  While liberty is necessary for a society, it is important that one of the results of liberty, namely factions, be reasonably contained.

“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.” (James Madison).

In the “Federalist Paper #51,” James Madison discusses how it is important for the government of this new nation to have “Proper checks and Balances.” It is in this paper that Madison channels the enlightenment philosopher Baron de Montesquieu. Montesquieu, who lived from 1689-1755, believed that a government should have separate branches. By separating the power from one person, to multiple branches, it inhibits the ability for tyrannical rule over the people. Madison’s beliefs for this governmental structure stems from the English monarchy. Madison suffered through a Monarchical rule that imposed taxes and violated what the colonists believed to be basic human rights. Madison believed the government was for the people, by the people. He believed that when the people gave power to the government, it was the governments duty and responsibility to protect it. By separating the government into different branches not one branch could obtain to much power, leading to abuse of the people. This represent their distrust of human nature and their distrust of government. Madison believed that when power was given to people it could corrupt them and lead to malicious rulers. Therefore, to avoid the abuse of power by a government Madison instituted the balance of power as a way to police and the government.