1. " 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?"
Madison here argues for a government in which complete power is not bestowed upon an individual or a certain group, but rather split up amongst multiple parties. He states that no man or party should be able to "judge in their own cause", because they would surely be biased. In order to ensure that laws passed aren't biased, Madison is calling for multiple branches of government, each able to balance the others out. This ensures no one gets too much influence and power, and that no one can judge for themselves whether not their actions are just. The American Government System works because it applies Madison's beliefs. For example, if an executive act created by the President is deemed to be biased, another branch of government such as the Judicial Branch is able to cancel out this unfair law.
2. "It must be confessed that in this, as in most other cases, there is a mean, on both sides of which inconveniences will be found to lie. 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."
In this passage, Madison is arguing for local State legislatures in addition to a federal government. He believes so because if the government was too big, it would be chaotic, and if it was to small, it would be prone to corruption. He views the solution to this issue as having multiple smaller governments within the larger national one. In practice, this form of government works, because State governments legislate based on local circumstances specific to the situation of the state. As a result, the federal government can focus more on problems concerning the nation as a whole, rather than smaller issues.
Federalist Paper No. 51
1. "The second method 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."
The American form of government works because it accounts for minorities and smaller groups. As a country created by immigrants, America is bound to have many different groups of people. As a result of such diversity, the government is sure to cater to everyone, not just the biggest party. As a result, everyone is able to cooperate and head towards a common objective for everyone.
2. "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 gradnally induced, by a like motive, to wish for a government which will protect all parties, the weaker as well as the more powerful."
The overarching idea of why the American form of government works is because it is just. Fundamentally, the government is fair, and will keep pursing justice until it is obtained. The government's role is to ensure stronger factions can't discriminate against weaker factions, and make sure everyone has equal rights for everyone. As long as people are treated fairly and equally, the people are happy and will work together to further improve society.
No comments:
Post a Comment