Question

When James Madison proposed a new constitution, he tried to balance the need for "proper energy" in government with a clear limitation of government power as well.

a) Identify two features Madison proposed for keeping any branch of government from becoming too powerful.
b) Explain how each feature identified in part a balances the need for strong government with a need for strong government with a need for limited government. Use two examples to support your answer.
c) Identify one feature Madison proposed for dividing powers between national and state governments.
d) Explain how this feature balanced the need fo a strong central government while assuring the states adequate power.

Answer 1

James Madison balanced the need for a strong yet limited government in the new constitution by proposing the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances. He also introduced federalism, which divided powers between the national and state governments, providing further balance.

Step-by-step explanation:

James Madison's Proposals in the New Constitution

When James Madison proposed the new constitution, he introduced mechanisms to prevent any single branch of government from becoming too powerful. Two key features he proposed were:

• Separation of Powers: Dividing governmental power among three separate branches (legislative, executive, judicial).
• Checks and Balances: Each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches.

These features work together to ensure a balance between a strong government and the need for limited government. The separation of powers prevents the concentration of power by distributing it among different branches. The checks and balances system requires cooperation among the branches and gives each one the capacity to block the others from exceeding their authority, thus preserving the power of the people as the ultimate authority.

Madison also proposed dividing powers between the national and state governments, known as federalism. One specific feature of federalism is the enumeration of powers in the Constitution which specifies powers for the national government, while others are reserved for the states. This design maintains a strong central government to handle national concerns while assuring that the states hold adequate power to govern local affairs. The structure of the Senate as an equal representative body for states and the 10th Amendment, which reserves unenumerated powers to the states or the people, are key examples illustrating this balance.