James Madison
on Checks & Balances
Main authors of Federalist Essays:

James Madison
Alexander
Hamilton
Purpose of Federalist Essays: NEW YORK!

Thesis of Federalist Essays:

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.
“Ambition must be made to
counteract ambition.”

CHECKS & BALANCES!
What is human nature?

Greedy
Selfinterested
Powerhungry
“If men were angels…”

ANARCHY!
“If angels were to govern men…”

DICTATORSHIP!
How do “men govern over men?”

Job #1:
Control the governed.
(prevent ANARCHY)
Job #2:
Get government to control itself.
CHECKS
& BALANCES!
(prevent DICTATORSHIP)
1st example of checks & balances:

BICAMERLISM
Chosen by:
Term Length:
The People
2 years
Representation Population
based on:
State Legislatures
6 years
2 per state
2nd example of checks & balances:

The president can VETO bills
passed by the Congress.
Summary: Fed #51

1) Strong government is necessary
because men are not angels.
1) Checks & balances are necessary
because those who govern can’t
be trusted.