Federalist Papers 10 and 51: Why the American Government Works

The Federalist #10: 
In this paper, the author clarifies two key differences between pure democracy and a republic, and he argues that a republican form of government will be the most conducive to the stability of the nation.

"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."

The author makes the distinction that in a republic, the public views do not directly affect national policy but rather are sent through a "chosen body of citizens," namely the members of Congress in the American governmental system that exists to this day. He implies that these chosen representatives will be wise and unbiased in their decision making, which is made possible through our careful selection of these people. He also argues that under this system, the public opinion will in fact be better voiced through a group of representative officials than by the people themselves. This is in fact why our current form of government works so well; the system of elected representatives works much more efficiently than would a pure democracy that stems completely from the citizens.

"The other point of difference is, the greater number of citizens and extent of territory which may be brought within the compass of republican than of democratic government; and it is this circumstance principally which renders factious combinations less to be dreaded in the former than in the latter... Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens; or if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel it to discover their own strength, and to act in unison with each other.

The author's other main distinction between democracy and a republic is that the latter is able to cover a greater extent of land and control it in an effective manner. A large portion of this paper is devoted to discussing factions, which in our present day can be thought of as political parties. His belief is that with minimal numbers of political factions, it is too easy for one large majority party to completely and perhaps oppressively rule over the government. By having a "greater variety of parties and interests" in a republic, it is less likely for one idea to be so commonly held by all that it overrides all others. This seems to have been implemented effectively, for we still have our two large and opposing political parties today.

The Federalist #51:
This paper seems to discuss numerous methods that a government can use to efficiently guard against oppression from within the government, whether it between the branches of government or between factions of people.

"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."

Here, the author draws on the Enlightenment ideals of the likes of Montesquieu in advocating the idea of separation of powers, in which the government is divided into different branches so as to prevent the abuse of power from any one branch. He says not only that each branch should "have a will of its own," meaning that no single branch is in any way controlled by any other, but also that the members of one branch should have as little say as possible in appointing the members of others. In a way, this has been put into effect in present-day society. However, he recognizes that this cannot always be done so as to benefit the nation, stating as an example that court justices should be appointed by knowledgable members of other branches rather than by the more relatively ignorant people. This is a truth that we've realized in today's government, and again, we see the influence of this article in the separation of powers system that exists between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.

"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. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself."

The author explains that the ideal government not only has branches that check the power of the others, but also that the system of a federal government that controls smaller state governments provides a huge aid to the ruling of the nation. He knows that having smaller and separate governments will help control the individual sectors of the nation, and that these governments must be controlled by one larger system. In this way, the state governments will effectively rule over their own people while at the same time ensuring that no other infringes on their sovereignty. Again, this system is a large part of how today's government functions; the federal government has jurisdiction over the state governments, which in turn control smaller districts that make local decisions. This separated yet interconnected system has given rise to the stable system that is the American government.