Directions
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls 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 control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.” James Madison – The Federalist Papers
Federalist 51 – Protecting the Rights of the People
How does James Madison advocate for protections and safeguards for the rights and liberties of the people? In your discussion, address your ideas about whether Federalist 51 is simply a propaganda piece written to secure the ratification of the Constitution, or is it a document that expresses the “original intent” of the Founders (all Federalist Paperswere signed “Publius”) and accordingly has a special position in constitutional interpretation?