The passage below about government is from Federalist No. 51.
"If men were angles, no government would be necessary. If angles were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. . .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."
How are the author's view from this passage applied in the US Constitution?
The author's view from this passage in Federalist No. 51 is applied in the US Constitution through a system of checks and balances, separation of powers, and the establishment of constitutional limits on government authority.
The concept of checks and balances is reflected in the Constitution through the allocation of powers among the three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial). Each branch has the ability to restrain the other branches from exceeding their powers. For example, the president can veto legislation passed by Congress, but Congress can override the president's veto with a supermajority vote. This system ensures that no one branch becomes too powerful and allows each branch to act as a check on the others.
The principle of separation of powers is also incorporated into the Constitution. It distributes powers and responsibilities among different branches to prevent the concentration of power in one entity. The legislative branch is responsible for creating laws, the executive enforces laws, and the judicial interprets laws. This separation helps maintain the balance of power and ensures that no single entity can dominate the government.
Additionally, the US Constitution establishes constitutional limits on government authority. It outlines the powers and limitations of the federal government, clearly stating what it can and cannot do. The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, guarantees individual rights and places further restrictions on government actions, protecting citizens from potential abuse of power.
In summary, the principles expressed in the passage from Federalist No. 51 are reflected in the US Constitution through a system of checks and balances, separation of powers, and constitutional limitations on government authority. These mechanisms enable the government to control the governed while obliging it to control itself, creating a framework for a balanced and accountable government.