Federalist Papers Summary

Federalist No. 10: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection

Author: James Madison
Published: November 23, 1787

Key Points:

• Dangers of Faction: Madison argues that a well-constructed Union can break and control the violence of faction, which he sees as a threat to popular governments.
• Definition of Faction: A faction is a group of citizens united by a common passion or interest adverse to the rights of others or the community's interests.
• Cures for Faction: There are two ways to cure faction: removing its causes and controlling its effects.
  • Removing causes:
    1. Destroying liberty (which is not feasible)
    2. Giving everyone the same opinions (impractical)
• Nature of Factions: Factions are sown into human nature, often arising from the unequal distribution of property.
• Republic vs. Democracy: A republic, with elected representatives, can better control factions than a pure democracy.
• Large Republic Benefits: Larger republics dilute factionalism by encompassing a greater diversity of parties and interests, making it harder for a majority faction to oppress minorities.

Federalist No. 51: The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances

Author: Alexander Hamilton or James Madison
Published: February 8, 1788

Key Points:

• Separation of Powers: Each department of government should have a will of its own, with minimal agency in appointing members of other departments to maintain independence.
• Checks and Balances: Government must have frameworks to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power; ambition must counteract ambition.
• Dependence on the People: The primary control on government is its dependence on the people, supplemented by auxiliary precautions.
• Legislative Dominance: The legislative branch naturally predominates in republican government; thus, it should be divided into branches to prevent dominance.
• Protection of Minority Rights: A diverse society helps prevent any majority from oppressing minority factions.
• Federal System Benefits: The U.S. federal system divides power between national and state governments, providing double security to people's rights.
• Larger Republics Advantage: In larger republics, various interests and factions make unjust majorities less likely, enhancing self-government capability.

Conclusion:

• Justice is the ultimate goal of government and civil society. The structure of the Federalist system is designed to protect against factional dominance and promote the common good.
• Larger, more diverse republics are better equipped to protect individual rights and maintain justice.