Assignment # 5 Due 10-22-13

“Government implies the power of making laws. It is essential to the idea of a law, that it be attended with a sanction; or, in other words, a penalty or punishment for disobedience. If there be no penalty annexed to disobedience, the resolutions or commands which pretend to be laws will, in fact, amount to nothing more than advice or recommendation.”       

Alexander Hamilton

The Federalist No. 15

       Hamilton wrote the essays in Federalists No. 15 to detail “the insufficiency of the President of Confederation to preserve the union.” In this particular quote Hamilton is discussing the powers of the government. Under the Articles of Confederation the central government has the power to make laws, however there is no punishment or “sanction” as Hamilton stated for states that disobey the laws set forth. The “laws” set forth by the central government would seem more like suggestions or recommendations as the states would lack inclination to follow them. Sanctions need to be put in place so that the states are more inclined to follow the laws. If they decide not to follow the laws the government can then penalize them.

       The quote by Hamilton relates to the class as it discusses one of the most important powers the central government has in the United States. We are comprised of many states with different laws in each state. However, the government has laws in which we as a country must follow. If these laws are not followed the state can and will be penalized. This is an ideal system since there has to be a hierarchy of power in order for the country to run effectively.

 “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control 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 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 No. 51

        In this particular quote Madison is describing the systems of checks and balances that is needed in a government. The powers of each branch of government should limit the powers of each other so that “abuses of government” does not occur. People are not perfect therefore it is inevitable that problem of powers may arise if this system is not put forth. 

       This quote by Madison relates to this class as it outlines the checks and balances system within the American government. Each of the three branches of government has a specific set of powers that can limit the powers of the others so that no one branch is too powerful. This has proven to be effective in our country.