APGoPo
Unit 1
TEACHER
FEDERALIST #51 READING GUIDE
1. What is essential to the “preservation of liberty”? How should this “be so constituted”?
That each department should have a will of its own. That each department should be
politically independent of the others (e.g. that each should have as little agency as possible in
the appointment of the others).
2. Explain the following: “A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the
government; but experience has taught mankind the need for auxiliary precautions.”
Elections are important to resist tyranny, but they are not enough. Other measures are
needed. Madison goes on to describe the roles of separation of powers, checks and balances,
and federalism in this regard throughout the balance of this essay.
3. In a republican government, which branch is the strongest? Identify three ways of “remedying
this inconveniency”.
The legislature.
1) Dividing Congress.
2) Giving the two houses of Congress two different means of election.
3) Fortifying the executive (e.g. with a veto).
4. List two ways in which the federal system of the U.S. “places that system in a very interesting
point of view,” i.e., protects against tyranny.
1) In the “compound republic” of the U.S., power is divided between two distinct levels of government
(e.g. state governments and the federal government) and then each level in turn subdivides power
within itself; hence, a “double security.”
2) The multiplicity of interests within the U. S. will make it unlikely that tyranny will develop. In a small
republic, there is a greater chance that a majority faction will develop and will oppress the people.
In a large republic, there is less of a chance that this will occur simply because the nation is so vast
and because there are so many interests present.
5. It is important that you see the role of the following “AUXILIARY PRECAUTIONS” in guarding
against tyranny in this essay.
A. Separation of Powers
No one branch of government controls all of the power
B. Checks and Balances
Each branch holds some control over the other branches of government
C. Federalism
Power is separated from the State and federal government to prevent tyranny from the
federal government (i.e. passage of amendments, selection of president)
the jerry perez experiment