Why does the American Form of Government Work?

In the Federalist Essay No.10 James Madison analyzes the the danger in a society without checks and balances. "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? And what are the different classes of legislators but advocates and parties to the causes which they determine? Is a law proposed concerning private debts? It is a question to which the creditors are parties on one side and the debtors on the other. Justice ought to hold the balance between them." He argues that in a society there has to be a balance in government itself and between the government and the people. He says that we must keep the government in check because if we do not, the country can be left in ruins with absolute injustice at every corner.

In the Federalist Essay No.51 Madison reiterates separation, more in government. "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." Madison also states that there will always be factions in government (a state of disorganization or chaos). The only way to fix these disorganization is to have more factions. By this he means that no one problem will ever get big enough to make the people want to overthrow or "fix" the government.