AP- GOV Blog 3-2: The Federalist No. 51

The Federalist No. 51

In the Federalist No. 51, Madison talks about how each department should have their own "will," and that the members of the departments should have the least amount of power in appointing members in their agency. It should be the people that should have the authority to appoint the supreme executive, legislative, and judiciary. Another idea that Madison, brought up is that, the members of each department should be as little dependent as possible on those of the others. Madison says that "ambition must be made to counteract ambition." The role of government is to suit the American lifestyle. That man interest must be in line with the "constitutional rights" of the area. The government should be a reflection on human nature, this is necessary, for it prevents abuses of power from the government.

Madison talked about when framing a government, that a government that governs the people, that the people must give the power to be controlled, and when that power is given, the power to control the government. A concept that Madison talked about, was the system of checks and balances, "the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other." He talks about this system, that there are checks and balances, that one may have more power then the other, but there are balances that make it hard to abuse the power. In this system, that he talks about, there are offices that have more power then others. One example of this power house, is the legislative branch. He talks about the division into different branches. Within these different branches, that they are as little connected with each other as the nature of their common function. These branches should be dependent on the society. The rights of the minority should be protected. Madison endes that the general good should be balanced.

I think the basic idea that Madison is getting at is correct. There should always be a system of checks and balances, that prevents abuse of power. That the government should be allowed to governed, but they should aslo govern themselves.