James Madison and Federalist 51

James Madison realized that the real difficulty in government is not governing the people; rather it is governing the government. We read in D&C 121:39, “almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, … will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.” This is the problem with government that it put some men in a position to rule over others and this can sometimes lead to wicked greedy rulers. James Madison wrote in Federalist 51 some ways that we can keep our leaders from becoming tyrants, such as the best way to appoint members, keeping departments as independent as possible, division and separation of powers, and keep any factions from gaining the majority of power.Madison first writes about how to appoint members, he believes that members in each department should have as little authority in selecting people for positions as possible. In Federalist 51 he says, “It is evident that each department should have a will of its own; and consequently should be so constituted that the members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others”. He believed if some members had the power to appoint others to power, it could create a corrupt government. As humans we are often selfish, when a member is given the power to appoint, he is put in a situation that he can get gain from giving someone that position, or force a person to do as they wish them too because of the position that the person gave to them. Madison understood that people could get greedy, and tried to set up a government in which, as many members as possible are free from bribes and blackmail. He says that in an ideal situation the people would vote for every position, although he admits that it would be impossible to have the people vote on every single leader.

He goes on to say how every department should be as independent as possible; he says, “The members of each department should be as little dependent as possible on those of the others”. If they depend too much on each other it runs the risk that departments could collaborate, and get more power than the would otherwise have. The ruler of each department should protect the department from encroachment.

The government is protected from usurpation by the division and separation of government. Thus keeping any part of the government from gaining too much control and impeding on the justice of the people. This is apparent in the distinction between federal and state government, and also with the branches of government. The different parts of government control each other and thus keep each other in check. For example, the states get all the power that is not explicitly stated in the constitution. This keeps the National government from having too much control, and keeps the government closer to the people. Another example of this is the president’s vetoing power, and the congress overriding power. So even at the national level there are checks and balances. Also the legislative and law-making branch has two houses to check each other. His policy on factions is the more the merrier. The more factions that there are the less opportunity that any one group will take complete power and steal the power of others.

The Constitution was Inspired

There is no doubt that God freed this country, despite the odds our country gained freedom. The constitution is the symbol of our freedom, obviously if God took interest in freeing our country he would also be very interested in preserving our country’s freedom.  Our constitution was inspired, because it was written by inspired men that God put into place at that time. God needed a free country, a country that he could restore his word. Then, he has preserved this free land so that we can more easily spread his word. He had been setting things in place for years to bring to pass his purposes, such as the printing of the bible, the revolutionary war. Through this free Country God restored the gospel to prepare for the second coming.  In Doctrine and Covenants 101:77 the Lord says “According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles”. The Lord discusses his reasons for bring to pass the independence of America, and also in the creation of the constitution, saying that it happened in order to maintain and protect our rights, according to his just and holy principles.

            The constitution is an inspired document because it is based in just and holy principles. When this document is put into action, it frees man. It keeps the government or any man from gaining power over another. It states the rights that man are given from God, and best of all it is not simply a document for Americans, it applies to all men. Through this document we see many gospel principles. For example, all men are equal to God, that we have the agency to make our own decisions, and that the individual is important.

            The constitution was written by inspired men, men that God prepared for this time. Benjamin Franklin asked for a prayer before the constitution, proving that the founding fathers acknowledged the hand of God in their work. The Lord said “And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:79-80). These were man that obviously cared for the rights of others. Many of them had proved this by drafting the Declaration of Independence and pledging their lives, fortunes and sacred honor, for the sake of others rights. Everything in the constitution was carefully looked at to make sure that it would have a positive effect on future generations.  These were good men that were responsive to the light of Christ within them. They were humbled by the fact that they had to create a document that would protect freedom for a long time, and therefore were humble enough to receive the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.                                                                                     An important principle in the gospel is agency, which is a prevalent subject in the Constitution.  With the constitution men are more liable for their sins. In Doctrine and Covenants 101:78-89, the Lord says “according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another”. We see the inspired message of agency throughout the Constitution with the idea of the importance of the protecting of our rights. If our rights are protected, then so is our agency.           

            The idea of a democracy was an inspired thought. It was an entirely new idea, but in this way God was able to rid this Nation of anarchy and therefore made himself the ruler of our nation. We know from the Old Testament that when the Israelites let God be their King, everything worked out very well for them, but when they wanted a human king, they began having problems. Through our democratic system, we make God our King. Which as members of the church we know that having God as our ruler is definitely a positive, because he is a perfect and just ruler.

            The constitution was inspired, because it is based on good and eternal principles, which protect citizens and their rights. Also because the men that wrote it were good men, that God prepared to create and protect freedom. Best of all, we know that it was inspired, because it has been tried time and time again, and it continues to protect our freedoms today.