James Madison's Question

The difficulty that Madison poses is that the government has to have the power to control the people and then control itself, but it’s a very complex goal to accomplish, especially with a new government. When America was a new independent country, the government had to morph itself in order to be able to govern the Colonists, and then be able to control itself. This is the main idea behind primary control. The Government is completely dependent on the people, but the problem is that men aren’t perfect, and because men are governed by men, the government will have some difficulties controlling the people, that is why public virtue is so important. Public virtue is one of the ideas that uphold the Constitution. The seven characteristics that make up public virtue are as follows: first the people need to have a commitment to rule of law. Second, they need a willingness to exercise reasoned self-restraint, compassion and decency. Third, the people need a willingness to serve in public office. Fourth, they need a willingness to set aside private interest for the good of all. Fifth, they need a willingness compromise politically. Sixth they need to be willing to exercise economic temperance. And lastly they need a willingness to practice individual as well as public virtue. The second base that upholds the Constitution is the safeguard of the auxiliary precautions. The auxiliary precautions were put in place to protect the people as well as be a standard for the government. As Madison said in Federalist 51 “We see it particularly displayed in all the subordinate distributions of power, where the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other -- that the private interest of every individual may be a sentinel over the public rights. These inventions of prudence cannot be less requisite in the distribution of the supreme powers of the State.” As is evident, checks and balances are the most important. This auxiliary is what allows the Trifold of our government to check itself so that we, in theory, escape corruption. The idea that a Republic government had only one government was abolished and because of the Constitution, the government is divided into three branches, the Legislative, Executive and Judicial. Checks and Balances give each branch a right to examine one another so one isn’t abusing the power given to them by the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution gives a list of what powers the government has to govern the people, and more importantly how they control each other. In order to check the legislative branch, the Executive and the Judicial Branches are given the following powers: the executive uses the power to veto and pull congress into a special session and out of recess to keep them focused. The Judiciary Branch has the power to declare laws unconstitutional therefore making sure that we stay free. The Legislative and Judicial Branches have the opportunity to check the President as well. The Legislative branch can check through the power to impeach, override vetos, and approve or deny judge appointments; while, on the other hand, the judicial branch can only declare actions unconstitutional and the Chief judge stands as the judge when the President gets impeached. The Executive and Legislative Branches check the judicial branch because both are in charge of appointing judges. James Madison as the father of the constitution knew what was best for the American people so they can grow to become the greatest country.