Federalism is the system of government that divides power between a central government and the regional government. The idea of federalism came about after the American Revolution when the drafters of the Constitution were debating over the roles of the national and state governments. The Federalists carefully planned out their idea of federalism and ensured that their view would best handle their concerns and issues. In Madison’s Federalist 51, he explains many key concepts that he believed were important to the foundation of a new government. Since Madison’s Federalist 51, there have been many changes made to the federalist system, which now allows the central government to act with the original powers of the states. Although federalism has changed, it is still a very effective system of government implemented in the United States and that could be implemented anywhere. The Articles of Confederation was the United States method of making itself official. The purpose of the Articles of Confederation was to establish government, but limit the central government. The states under the Articles of Confederation were able to act independently of the others and of the nation. “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.” (Articles of Confederation, Article II) By viewing the central government as dangerous, the states were able to make destructive decisions and feud with each other. The need for reform was established at the Annapolis Convention. A resolution was drafted, but it did not speak of any future actions to fix the Articles of Confederation. (Lowi et al.,38) Afte... ... middle of paper ... .... 676. US Supreme Court. 1819. Print. James Madison, "Federalist #10," in The Federalist Papers, ed. David T. Canon, Coleman, John J., Mayer, Kenneth R. (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2011), p. 78. Alexander Hamilton, "Federalist #15," in The Federalist Papers, ed. David T. Canon, Coleman, John J., Mayer, Kenneth R. (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2011), p. 78. James Madison, "Federalist #51," in The Federalist Papers, ed. David T. Canon, Coleman, John J., Mayer, Kenneth R. (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2011), p. 78. James Madison, "Federalist #46," in The Federalist Papers, ed. David T. Canon, Coleman, John J., Mayer, Kenneth R. (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2011), p. 78. Peterson, Paul. "From The Price of Federalism." The Enduring Debate. David T. Canon, John J. Coleman, and Kennneth R. Mayer. 6th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. 100-08.
Federalist #10 is written by James Madison addressing the state of New York, and is a continuation of Federalist #9, which attempts to address the Union as a safeguard against domestic faction and insurrection. It hopes to instill in the anti-federalists that the constitution safeguards against incivility and uprising. Madison believes that “(the American constitutions) have as effectually obviated the danger on this side, as was wished and expected”. He believes that the United States Constitution is well-covered against possibilities of insurrection and uprising from both inside and outside of government positions in office, and this is what he is attempting to explain to the citizens of New York.
Publius. "The Federalist No. 10." The Constitutional Society. October 21, 2013. Accessed February 24, 2014. http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.html.
Buchanan, James. "Fourth Annual Message to Congress on the State of the Union." Washington D.C. 3 Dec. 1860. The American Presidency Project. Web. 18 May 2014.
[12] Thomas Jefferson, A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, Draft (1799) reprinted at <http://members.tripod.com/~candst/tnppage/statute.htm> [10 December 2003]
Madison further states that “according to the degree of pleasure and pride we feel in being Republicans, ought to be our zeal in cherishing the spirt and supporting the character of federalist” (James Madison).
Continuing the metaphor of faction as a disease, Madison labels “[a] republic” as “the cure for which we are seeking”. Madison notes that a republican government differs from pure democracy in that the delegation of the government is smaller and can thus achieve efficient action. Another contrast lies also in the extent to which a republic has influence over a “greater sphere of country”. The passing of public views “through the medium of a chosen body of citizens” allows for refinement of ideas due to the influence of elected officials’ wisdom and is “more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves”. To protect against the caprices of wicked men, the number of representatives of the people will be a quantity that stymies the influence of the few but is able to, as Madison states, “guard against the confusion of a multitude”. Madison then references his belief in the common sense and good will of men in that “the suffrages of the people” is likely to result in the election of men most deserving and fit for their roles as representatives and lawmakers. Madison presents an avowal that counters one of the Anti-Federalists’ major grievances: “[t]he federal Constitution forms a happy combination” with “the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local and particular to the State legislatures”; Anti-Federalists feared that a stronger
Federalist No. 10 is an essay written by James Madison and the tenth of the Federalist Papers, a series arguing for the ratification of the United States Constitution.
Madison, J. (1788, Feb. 19). The Federalist no. 57: The alleged tendency of the new plan to elevate the few at the expense of the many considered in connection with representation. New York Packet. Retrieved from http://constitution.org/fed/federa57.htm
Jim Powell, “James Madison-Checks and Balances to Limit Government Power,” in Fee. March 01 1996,
Hamilton, Alexander. “Federalist 68.” The Federalist with Letters of “Brutus”. Ed. Terence Ball. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003. 331-334. Print.
James Madison, "Federalist #10," in The Federalist Papers, ed. Clinton Rossiter (New York: New American Library, 1961), pp 77-84
Roland, J. (1998, October 18). The Federalist No. 51, The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments. Retrieved from Constition Society: http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa51.htm
Federalism is a political system in which authority is divided between different levels of government (Barbour and Wright, 75). Federalism has been around since 1787 in the United States of America. The divided powers between the state governments and the national governments are powers that are limited to a certain level so they do not depend on each other for power. The United States of America has a federal government in which the central government shares influence with the numerous smaller state governments. The idea was for a “more perfect union.”
Throughout Federalist 10, James Madison argues that we must allow people to separate into groups according to their needs and beliefs regarding the political system of our country. These factions will protect interests and create an elevated government comprised of the most knowledgeable and educated men to protect the citizenry. His arguments reflect his status as a wealthy and educated landowner that must protect himself in the face of the common people. I will argue that Madison’s argument is flawed, which he alludes to in his writing, because he neglects to acknowledge that people are self-interested and therefore, morally corrupt. This self-interest will be the downfall of Madison’s government as private interests take root and the will of the people is ignored in all places but elections.
Locke, John. "Second Treatise, Of Civil Government." Woll, Peter. American Government Readings and Cases 16th Edition. New York: Pearson Longman, 2006. 5-6.