In Federalist 51, James Madison wrote about the paradox of trying to create a government that is capable of controlling “. . . the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” The delicate balance lies in trying to ensure the government as a whole has enough power to stop factions from having complete control while at the same time, having a system of balance that will not allow the government to run completely by itself.
The Constitution was an inspired document that was able to put the balance of powers into force. First, there is a set of areas where the government can make laws in reference too. Through this list it was unnecessary to explain the things the government could not do. By only giving a list of things the government could do, anything outside of the list was clearly forbidden. The Constitution should have been enough. However, the Founding Fathers felt that if something might go wrong, and fearing for the freedom and rights of the People, they would need to do all in their power to ensure that the people are protected. Thus came the Bill of Rights. These are areas that are written out where the government cannot make laws in reference to. This Bill of Rights protects the people’s basic and some wanted rights.
These rules, The Constitution and The Bill of Rights, help keep the government in check, but there are always ways around laws. The Founding Fathers understood this and created a government that would, once elected by the People, rule itself while not having access to too much power. The people needed to vote for the person they wanted in office. If those people acting in office were not satisfactory, the people could vote them out. The government was and is dependent on the people. It is a different matter if the people do not use this power wisely.
The government is split into three separate areas: Legislative, Judicial, and Executive. Each of these areas can veto another branches decisions. This ensures that one branch will not become too powerful. According to Federalist #51, a foundation of government must be “ . . . separate and distinct [in] exercise of the different powers of government . . .” in order to be successful and not full of tyranny.
Not only is there a separation of powers between the different branches of government, but there is also a division of powers between the national and state governments called federalism. The national government could, potentially, be the most powerful form of government if given the powers. This is why the national government is limited in what is can do by The Constitution and The Bill of Rights. However, everything that is not stated in The Constitution and The Bill of Rights are items that the state governments can look into. Through popular vote of a state, a smaller groups individual wants are reflected in the outcomes.
While it is admirable, popular vote is not enough all of the time. This is why there are different items that can and cannot be voted on at the national levels. For example, Hitler was voted into power in Germany, but caused one of the most horrible genocides we know of. In order to stop this happening, it is important to have a large country from which to gain votes.
Our country is large. The larger the country, the harder it is for any one faction to have complete control. It might be easy for a faction to gain control in a state, but in reality, over the entire nation, they will have little power.
The government of the United States of America was perfectly designed since the Lord inspired it. There is a perfect system of checks and balances that keeps the powers in check. This is to protect the people. Unfortunately, the people, for many generations, have not taken upon themselves the responsibility of being the ruling force. They have lost much power and because of that, it is easy to see our government weakening. It will only become strong when the people remember that they are in power, and it is their right and duty to ensure this government will last for many generations to come.
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