The Federalist Project: Modern Federalist #39

To the People of the United States of America

                The Constitution of the United States took years to build. The Constitutional Convention may have only lasted from May until September but the process it took to get there took years. The founders studied democracies, monarchies, aristocracies, anarchies, tyrannies, and every other form of government before deciding on a republic. They decided to combine the best powers of a monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy to best provide for the people. The founders trusted in our education; in our understanding. We are not the weak uneducated masses but the strong, thoughtful citizens. Democratic governance is the best foundation we can have since this is our nation, not the government’s. A republic is not easily defined. Many countries have claimed a republic but not actually operated by one. The definition of a true republic is one that derives its power from the people. That power is then administered by people holding offices who are chosen whether directly or indirectly by the people, for limited periods of time, and holding a high moral standard.

                It is necessary in any nation for the people to be the voice and the central power. The government is not established to protect the politicians, but the people. It is not meant to benefit one class of people, but an entire nation. The people choose their representatives, whether directly or indirectly, so that leaders are not chosen from a specific class and become tyrants. If leaders are chosen from a handful of aristocrats it would degrade republican character.

                The founders divided the government in such a way that the people held the main voice but not all the power. The House of Representatives is elected directly by the people. However, the Senate and Presidency are done differently. In regards to the Senate, the people elect the state legislators who vote for the national legislators. Regarding the president, the people vote for the Electoral College who then represent the people’s vote for president. The idea is that the people vote for the representatives who vote for the higher up representatives. This in indirect appointment by the people and keeps the people form having too much power. When the people have too much power an anarchy shortly follows.

                After the people elect the representatives by direct appointment or through other represented leaders, the representatives need limits on power. Term limits are necessary so that those in office do not become power hungry. The problem today is that we have become lazy and we vote for the same people each and every time without holding them accountable to their responsibilities. The president is limited to two terms but no other office is so limited. Many national (and state) congressmen have been in office for many years, some decades. This is not the intent of the constitution. Titles of nobility are also not permitted under the constitution. Why? No one should ever be held to a higher status because of blood line or wealth. It defies the most basic American principle that all are created equal. This means that we are all born with the same opportunities for greatness. It is an honor to serve your country, not a right or a position to be held above the head of others.

                The character of the government is essential to upholding the balance of power. There are five criteria under which the character of government is derived: the foundation it is based on (republic, democracy, oligarchy, etc.), where the sources of power are drawn from (the people, aristocracy, monarch, etc.), the operation of those powers (moral or amoral), the extent of them (how much power does each hold), and the powers that introduce future government changes (bureaucracy, government, select elite, etc.) Can we look at our country today and comfortably address where our nation stands in regards to these questions? Are we still based on the principles of the republic? I believe that on outward glance it would seem that we could. We are still based on a republic with power drawn from the people that is based on moral principles. However, a deeper look into the politics of America shows that we are gradually falling away from these to become more government based and with a deepening disregard for morals. We cannot expect the balance if we do not protect the government system that holds the power with the greatest respect for the people.

                Can we as a people ratify the Constitution? When it was established in 1787 the founders took to the people for their approval. Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote the Anti-Federalist Papers for the people; not their fellow government leaders. If placed before us today could we support the Constitution? That decision is placed before us. Every day. We must defend the government meant to protect us and our rights. That is the government of the constitution.

                It is important to know that the division of powers is broken down into two facets: national and federal. The House of Representatives gets powers from the people of America. Each state is given a certain number of representatives based off of the population. This is a national division of power since it is based off of direct representation of the people. On the other hand, the Senate is only given two representatives per state and derives its powers from the state. This is an indirect power from the people and is therefore a federal rather than national division of power. A government that is federal means that the power comes from political bodies that make up the government. The national government derives power from individual citizens that make up the nation. The constitution is neither completely national nor completely federal. Instead it is a balance of the two. This is why it is a republic. It balances the power between the people and the national government with the people as the basis of power.

A Patriot

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