To ensure the majority of states to approved the Constitution of the United States James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of articles that are known as the Federalist Papers. These papers outlined the rationale for ratification. Federalist 51 written by Madison contains valuable insights for our day.

Madison clearly understood human nature as he wrote “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition,” when describing how the branches of government should interact. He stated that the purpose of the Constitution as follows:

“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to controul the abuses of government. But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controuls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to controul the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to controul itself. A dependence on the people is no doubt the primary controul on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”

The people are to be the primary control over government. Today most people assume that means we control the government through voting. If we like our representatives we vote for them again. If we dislike them we vote against them. Madison probably had more than just the ability to vote on his mind when envisioning a people who would control the government. Civic engagement is important to retain personal sovereignty. A government that deems some workers nonessential and forces them out of work is a government that needs to be obliged to control itself. A government that applies sanctions and freezes bank accounts without due process is a government that is rife with abuses of power.

In Federalist 51 Madison also outlines why he would never have consented to the adoption of the 17th amendment which changed the way Senators were elected. Prior to the 17th Amendment Senators were elected by the state legislature. He wrote:

“In republican government the legislative authority, necessarily, predominates. The remedy for this inconveniency is, to divide the legislature into different branches; and to render them by different modes of election, and different principles of action, as little connected with each other, as the nature of their common functions, and their common dependence on the society, will admit.”

Individual liberty was the foundation of the Constitution. Multiple safeguards were put into place to protect citizens freedoms. This helps explain why there are state and federal governments. Madison wrote:

“In a single republic, all the power surrendered by the people, is submitted to the administration of a single government; and3 usurpations are guarded against by a division of the government into distinct and separate departments. In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people, is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each, subdivided among distinct and separate departments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will controul each other; at the same time that each will be controuled by itself.”

Madison concluded Federalist 51 by reminding us that:

“Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been, and ever will be pursued, until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.”

He further noted:

“It is no less certain than it is important, notwithstanding the contrary opinions which have been entertained, that the larger the society, provided it lie within a practicable sphere, the more duly capable it will be of self government.”

As a sovereign individual self government should be the preferred mode of government in most instances. No bureaucrat will have a greater interest in your life than you. No government officials should have the ability to deem your employment nonessential. Federalist 51 provides us with valuable insights into how governments operate and how we have an obligation to preserve our liberties against governmental abuse.