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Difficulty: EasyThe Constitutional Convention and Ratification Debates

In Federalist No. 51 (1788), James Madison wrote the following:

'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.'

Which of the following features of the United States Constitution best addresses Madison's concern about obliging the government to 'control itself'?

  1. A
    The creation of a formal two-party political system to organize congressional debates and voting
  2. B
    The inclusion of a reservation of powers clause that leaves most domestic authority with the individual states
  3. The establishment of a system of separation of powers and checks and balances among three branches of governmentAnswer
  4. D
    The requirement that all national tax policies receive unanimous approval from the legislature

Answer

The establishment of a system of separation of powers and checks and balances among three branches of government
The correct answer is correct because the system of separation of powers and checks and balances is the primary constitutional mechanism designed to oblige the federal government to control itself. By dividing authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and giving each branch the power to check the others, the Constitution prevents any single branch from dominating the government.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the quote from Federalist No. 51 to determine the problem described.
Madison argues that a government must have internal controls so that it is forced to 'control itself' and prevent tyranny.
Understanding the central problem of limiting government power is necessary to identify the constitutional solution.
2
Identify the primary mechanism in the United States Constitution designed to limit internal government power.
The Constitution divides federal power into three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—and gives each branch checks over the others.
This structural division is the direct application of Madison's principle of internal controls.
3
Select the option that matches the separation of powers and checks and balances.
The option stating the establishment of a system of separation of powers and checks and balances among three branches of government is correct.
This option directly corresponds to the constitutional solution for obliging the government to control itself.

Key Concept

The use of separation of powers and checks and balances to limit federal authority and prevent tyranny.
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Topics

The Constitutional Convention and Ratification Debates

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