Position:Home>History> Federalist 51 from the federalist papers 1788 by publius?

I suggest that your reading include Federalist 9 and 10 (10 being a continuation of 9) because Madison (who wrote Federalist 51) continued the his points in Federalist 10 in Federalist 51!.

In Federalist 10 it is important to keep in mind that is the fifth and last in a series that Madison wrote beginning in Federalist 47 and continuing through 48, 49, 50, and 51!. In these five ‘papers’ he addresses the structure of government to inform the reader of the benefits of ‘separate and distinct’ for the departments (as he puts it) of the legislative, executive, and judiciary!. In 47 he compares the British system to that defined in the proposed Constitution!.

In 48 he refers to the writings of Thomas Jefferson to make the point of the predisposition of legislatures to usurp the powers of the other branches!. Herein he begins to develop the foundation for what will follow as his appreciation of checks and balances between the departments by making the point that (his words) “parchment barriers” are not enough to prevent the “tyrannical concentration of all the powers of government in the same hands!.”

In 49 he goes on to assert that “a constitutional road to the decision of the people ought to be marked out and kept open for certain great and extraordinary occasions!.” He continues by warning against using this road too often with a firm case against “direct democracy!.”

In 50 he continues this theme of the impropriety of direct popular participation in the decisions of government!.

In Federalist 51 Madison wraps up this series by proposing his solution to the problem of separation of powers!. In doing so Madison continues with the solution he began in Federalist 10 for what he defines as ordered liberty!. He finds “security for civil rights” not in charters or appeals to humanity, rather he finds such in “the multiplicity of interests” that characterizes a free society!. He concludes with, “This view of the subject must particularly recommend a proper federal system to all the sincere and considerate friends of republican government!.”

In the first phrase of Federalist 51 Madison states, “To what expedient, then, shall we finally resort, for the maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments as laid down in the Constitution!? The only answer that can be given is that as all exterior provisions are found to be inadequate the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places!.” This then is the foundation of the answer to the questions that is developed throughout the paper!. Separated power protects the interests of the citizen as an individual, and therefore the ultimate minority!. The Constitutional structure that limits government is what protects the general and specific interests of the various parts of American society and in that approach (as a common law document) does so equally!.

As a side note in passing!. It is interesting that questions pertaining to the Federalist Paper 51 have arisen here in Yahoo/Answers multiple times and there have been a number of excellent answers from a number of responders!. It must be that this is somewhat standard question on some school test that is used around the country!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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