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Government by the People, For the People The new constitution, thought to bring to power a centralized form of Government, actually establishes a Democratic Republic. In Federalist # 39, Madison's main objective is to explain to the skeptics of the constitution that it truly calls for a democratic form of government, and not for a strict National one. He does this by showing his readers two key points; Discussion of the setup and ratification process for this new constitution, as well as how the Governments legislative representatives will be selected. Discussion of the Constitutions ratification process is one of the key themes that Madison tries to emphasize.
The adversaries of the constitution are afraid that by establishing a National Government as well as State Governments, the National Government will rise to absolute power, and the states will lose their sovereignty. Madison points out that even the way that this new constitution is to be ratified is against absolute power 100 percent. According to Madison, the constitution will be a fair representation of the interests of the people, because it will be the people who will ratify it. He also makes it a point to show that individuals will not be voting on it as members of one nation, but as members of individual states.
While it is the states who make the deciding votes, the votes themselves will be dictated by the citizens of each separate state. Therefore, it is the states (which represent the interest of the people) decision upon weather or not to accept this new form of government. The states are still in complete control of themselves. In this way, Madison shows that the powers entrusted to the national government shall be only those in which the states (citizens) grant them. The national government will be checked by that of the states. The second point Madison tries to make deals with the Legislative branch of the federal government.
He makes the point that the people will have direct input into lawmaking. The House of Representatives will derive its powers from the people of America; and the people will be represented in the same proportion and on the same principle as they are in the legislature of a particular State. To prevent rule by majority, the senate is set up with equal representation for each state. This balance of power between the people (House of Representatives) and the appointed officials (Senate) assures that the central Government will not be able to become sovereign. The states are in complete control of both the house and senate. This serves as a check for central power.
In conclusion, Madison makes a very effective argument in favor of the establishment of the new Democratic Republic. By making clear points about the ratification process of the constitution itself, as well as the legislative branch it will contain, he minimizes the concern that opponents of the constitution have. Mainly, that the national government will become sovereign. Madison proves this theory false, as well as showing that the Government is a combination of federal and national ideals.
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