james madison on checks & balances. james madisonalexander hamilton main authors of federalist...
TRANSCRIPT
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