Why does the American form of government work?

Federalist Paper #10

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? "

The American form of government works best when people are not individually proposing measures to govern the nation. This is because their viewpoints might solely benefit themselves rather than the entire country. The people are not accurate judges of how the country should be governed, and thus, these privileges cannot be given them. Madison points out that governments enforce acts that are not "concerning the rights of single persons, but concerning the rights of large bodies of citizens." Because most people cannot be trusted, the country should be governed by a limited amount of people who are able to account for all citizens.

2. "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."

As stated from this quote, establishing a republic is an important contributing factor that allows the American form of government to work. Madison believes that the citizens should elect a small group of people to represent the nation. These elites should be able to "best discern the true interest of their country" signifying that they will understand the most effective way to govern the country. Additionally, the representatives "will be least likely to sacrifice [patriotism and love] to temporary or partial considerations" meaning that they will not make decisions based on their own personal interest but rather based on that of the majority. Thus, by electing representatives to serve as part of the government, conflicting and biased viewpoints would be eliminated.

Federalist Paper #51

1. "In a single republic, all the power surrendered by the people is submitted to the administration of a single government; and the usurpations are guarded against by a division of the government into distinct and separate departments. 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." 

Another reason that the government works is because it is divided "into distinct and separate departments." By establishing different branches and having power evenly spread out, it prevents one part of the government from becoming too dominant. If one branch feels that another is too oppressive, they can limit their power through checks and balances. The different departments make sure the government works in a controlled manner that allows it to be more organized.

2. "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."

A fourth reason as to why the government works is that no minority will be rejected outside of the society. This is because there is such a diversified population in the United States, and thus, there will be "interested combinations of the majority." The people have a variety of different perspectives, so there will be no minority that is targeted against. The government makes sure that no group will become too powerful and cause minorities to feel insecure. By making sure that all citizens are included as a part of society, the government is able to effectively operate.