Each branch of government is framed so that its power checks the power of the other two branches additionally, each branch of government is dependent on the people, who are the source of legitimate authority. In this Federalist Paper, James Madison explains and defends the checks and balances system in the Constitution. PDF: Federalist Papers No 51 Writing Federalist 51 A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions. 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. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. “It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government.
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