Federalist No. 51 (1788)

Definition

Another essay from the Federalist Papers penned by James Madison, it explains and defends checks and balances within our Constitution which ensure no single branch becomes too powerful.

Analogy

Imagine if you're playing a game with your friends where everyone has different roles but equal powers - just like in tag, no one person can dominate because everyone else can "tag" them back. That's what checks and balances do - they keep any one part of government from becoming too powerful.

Related terms

Separation of Powers: The division of governmental responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising core functions of another.

Checks and Balances: A system that allows each branch of government to amend or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power.

Constitutionalism: A complex set up principles based on the concept that government must be limited in its powers and that its authority depends on its observation of these limitations.