Federalist 51

James Madison

on Checks & Balances

James Madison Alexander Hamilton

Main authors of Federalist Essays:

Purpose of Federalist Essays:

NEW YORK!

1)Why is the central government

so much more powerful? Because we NEED it to be.

2)Is it too powerful? No. Its power is LIMITED.

Thesis of Federalist Essays:

“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.”

CHECKS & BALANCES!

What is human nature?

Greedy

Self-interest

ed

Power-

hungry

“If men were angels…”

ANARCHY!

“If angels were to govern men…”

DICTATORSHIP!

Job #1:

How do “men govern over men?”

Control the governed.(prevent ANARCHY)

Job #2:Get government to control

itself.(prevent DICTATORSHIP)

CHECKS & BALANCES!

1st example of checks & balances:

BICAMERLISM

Chosen by:

Term Length:

Representationbased on:

The People

2 years

Population 2 per state

6 years

State Legislatures

2nd example of checks & balances:

The president can VETO bills

passed by the Congress.

1) Strong government is

necessary because men are not angels.

2) Checks & balances are necessary because those who govern can’t be trusted.

Summary: Fed #51