Why does the American Form of Government Work?

Federalist 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?"

Madison is asserting in this essay that a government or a country’s power and future is not solely rested in the hands of an individual. To assert success requires the collaboration of multiple people or perhaps the whole nation. This is because one’s interest and judgement may be biased and swayed. The ultimate decision that they make could be the “wrong” one and lead a nation into peril. The “corrupt” integrity Madison explains is due to simply human nature. We are not completely neutral beings and we require multiple perspectives and ideas to create a strong government and therefore a strong nation. This American form of government with various governing pounds (Congress, the President and his advisors etc…) is what has made it possible for the American nation to thrive. Each decision is carefully considered rather than rashly creating restrictions or starting wars because we are considering all possible options.

Federalist 10: "In the first place, it is to be remarked that, however small the republic may be, the representatives must be raised to a certain number, in order to guard against the cabals of a few; and that, however large it may be, they must be limited to a certain number, in order to guard against the confusion of a multitude."

Similar to the idea above, Madison explains that the size does not necessarily matter as long as the government has varied ideas that contrast one another and can properly function. A nation does not have to be vast to be corrupt or successful. It is the governing body(ies) that create the structure of the country or in this case, America. Madison especially emphasizes that perhaps less is truly more, too many minds can create too many problems. The American form of government has multiple people working for it but they all have specific jobs that limits them to certain problems. If more help is needed, they are there but if a decision can be reached within their faction, it creates less strain and less time wasted arguing because a single person opposes a body of one hundred.


Federalist 51: "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".

Justice and fairness are the foundation of American society. Madison wants all to feel accepted in American society and all people’s ideas considered. If there was an unjust sentence to an individual for perhaps a crime they did not commit, not only would there human emotions be extremely bruised but it could result in an unstable society of perhaps uprising. While that example is extremely small compared to the actual American government, peace in the American government has been maintained because justice has always been “pursued until is be obtained”. The government is on the side of the people and if the people feel protected then they will ultimately support the people. Justice is related to morality but it can also mirror the outside feelings and support of the American citizens. The American government works because their intentions are clear and it is understood that what they are fighting for is truly just.

Federalist 51: "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..."

Similar to what was mentioned in Article 10, the American government is formed of multiple bodies and in those bodies, multiple people. If the entire government was composed of similar people with similar views, they would be unable to look at society and the nation with a global or varied perspective. For example, if there was a single government with a group of ten rice farmers, they would be unable to understand the exact plight during the Whiskey Rebellion. Each group that Madison explains must “have a will of its own”. This means that the can’t all be the same bodies of people but have different agendas and be able to regroup as one to properly discuss the future of the nation. The American government has become what it is because they have created separate ideas and solutions for the same problem. They can assess what would be the “best” outcome and while Madison says that there should be a certain cap with the size of the government, those who compose the group should hold different perspectives.