Federalist Paper #51 the Theory Behind Madison\'s

Federalist Paper #51

The theory behind Madison's Federalist Paper #51 is an acknowledgement that the "have-nots" in any society are extremely likely to seek retribution against the "haves," and, like Hamilton, believed class struggle is inseparable from politics. Positioning himself in this manner clearly shows that he had emancipated himself from the sterile dualistic view of society that was so common in the eighteenth century and that so obsessed Hamilton. However, wherein Hamilton viewed the shared spirit of the several states as poisonous to the union, Madison was aware that the preservation of state governments could serve the cause of both liberty and union and because of extreme vastness of the United States at that time this was the most steadfast way to preserve the union.

It is interesting to note that the Federalist papers are unique as well because of the extreme amount of thought that was put into the design of the constitution, as shown in Madison's original thought process that were presented in the Federalist Paper #51 if not most, changes in institutional design, they usually occur as the reactions of shortsighted people to what they perceive as more-or-less short-range needs. What is most unusual about Madison, in contrast to the other delegates, is the degree to which he thought about the principles behind the institutions he favored. He practice the art of what today is termed institutional design, but he developed, as well, the outlines of a theory of institutional design that exists today.

In reviewing the #51 paper one can clearly see that Madison supports the partition of powers for each governmental department and expresses a firm belief that each department should have its own will and members within each department should be independent of other departmental members. Further, Madison felt, in order to avoid potential bias, members of one department should not be responsible for the appointment of members to another government department. In addition Madison clearly stresses that in framing the government need to control the governed and as well as control itself. The manner in which Madison envisioned the power of each government department was in assigning a certain amount of self-defense to each department that would protect individual departments from being unduly influenced by other departments as well being representative of the people to who they provided service. What Madison was actually stressing was a system of checks and balances as a means whereby the government's power would be restricted which would help to curb government abuse. In summing up Madison's position with respect to the framing of the U.S. government it is best stated that he supported a strong central government, yet leaving residual sovereignty to states in matters that did not require national concern. The force behind Madison's thinking is primarily based on his distrust of power assigned to people and government. In the end there exists a separation of powers within the three branches of government and no branch has supremacy over another.