Question 2: In Federalist 48, James Madison argued that in a representative republic the
legislative branch is the most powerful and the most likely to abuse its power. Do you
agree or disagree? Why? What evidence can you offer to support your position?
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Evaluate Madison's claim that "In a representative republic, the chief executive is
carefully limited in both extent and duration of power." On the other hand, the
constitional powers of the legislative branch 'are extensive with impressive limits."
The antidote Madison prescribes for the "enterprising ambition" of the legislature
is for the people to "focus their security and take all the precautions." How can you
and other citizens do that?
Angel: Introduction
Thesis: In federalist 48 James Madison states that the legislative branch
was the most powerful and most likely to abuse its power. My group will
argue in agreement with Madison assessment in so far as the legislative
branch being more powerful than the executive and judicial branch. The
legislative branch didn't really have many restrictions on their power and
were not exact on what they can or can't do. The president on the other
hand had power it’s was precise about what he can do to check the power
of the legislative branch. We agree with James Madison argued that in a
representative republic the legislative branch has the most power and will
most likely abuse its power. James Madison believed that the state
legislatures passed to many laws, without the peoples agreement with the
law. Many states had weak executive branches in their states which made it
hard for the check and balances systems for the executive branch to check
on the legislative branch. For example many states check or limit on
legislative powers by dividing the legislative branch into two houses. In
Massachusetts, the legislative branch was a powerful branch because of
it’s' popularity and systems within the Legislative Branch. During this time
the legislative powers were known as the New Jersey Plan. The plan was
organized for all of the states to have a equal amount of power. However,
the National governments were limited of its powers it could levy taxes,
import duties, regulate trade, and pass out laws which were passed out by
the National Legislature.
Stevie:
The Virginia Plan would have been given Congress unlimited powers
because of vetoes over states laws. The New Jersey Plan would have more
well defined legislative powers. Delegates defined Congress to be a
deliberative body, which means that Congress debate issues and avoid
making hasty decisions. Delegates agreed that the greatest for the
government passes is that to make laws. The Great Compromise, accepted
at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787 that called for a Congress of two
houses; in the upper, or Senate, representation of that states would be
equal, with each state having two senators: in the lower house or House of
Representatives would be apportioned according to the population of each
states, so that states with more people would have more representatives.
The plan was to contain how both houses of Congress were organized and
what were there main duties. Example: The Senate amend tax bills
developed in the House and develop appropriations bills. Separated
Powers ensured that no one individual or branch has excessive power that
can be abused. The powers were separated by the main job of each branch
and its ability to check on the other the other branches. Example: The
legislative makes laws and has the ability to check the executive branch on
if it is doing its job right
Jerimiah:
In a representative republic it hurts the executive branch a lot but doesn’t
have much affect on the legislative branch. The executive branch is always
closely watched because if not watched closely to avoid any type of
tyranny that may occur. This especially applies for the chief executive or
the president of the United States. We get to vote on who our official are in
a representative republic which benefits the people. The legislative branch
is fine with this because they are elected by the people to make laws that
can benefit the people. The legislative branch would only lose power and
have chaos in a democracy. If it was a democracy it would be harder to
agree on laws since people have their own opinion most of the time so
congress would rarely be able to agree on any laws for both state and
national legislation. In Federalists 48, James Madison argued that the
Legislative Branch will become a despotic government because the
executive and judicial departments will be dependent on the legislative
branch. However, this made the both executive and judicial departments
worried because the legislative branch will become to powerful and they
had imprecise power limits, so this means that the legislative branch would
control each department and they will have no check on there power.
Aaron
The people can check what the legislative branch is doing. Like Madison
said the people have to "focus their security and take all the precautions."
The people have a right to see what their representatives are doing and
how do the things there doing benefit them. In order to check on your
representatives you must of course start by voting them in. You must know
all there background history and see what they have done in the pass to
see if they are a good candidate. Second, be active with your
representatives by trying to talk to them in their offices or even e-mailing
them and give them your thought on what they should do on certain things
that can benefit you and others in the country. Finally, look at what your
representatives and other representatives have done in the past. You have
a right to look at what bills or laws have passed that your representatives
voted on. you can see what they felt about it and again you can give them
your input on what you felt they did or should have done about that bill.
That’s how people can take precautions and focus on the legislative branch
to make sure they are not just passing bills for themselves but for the
people which they are making the bills for.