The Federalist Papers, No. 51 by James Madison: The Federalist Papers, No. 51 by James Madison, List 3

Published on February 8, 1788, this essay by Madison advocates for a system of checks and balances within the United States government. Read the full text here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. render
    cause to become
    The remedy for this inconveniency is to divide the legislature into different branches; and to render them, by different modes of election and different principles of action, as little connected with each other as the nature of their common functions and their common dependence on the society will admit.
  2. fortify
    make strong or stronger
    As the weight of the legislative authority requires that it should be thus divided, the weakness of the executive may require, on the other hand, that it should be fortified.
  3. exert
    put to use
    On ordinary occasions it might not be exerted with the requisite firmness, and on extraordinary occasions it might be perfidiously abused.
  4. perfidious
    tending to betray
    On ordinary occasions it might not be exerted with the requisite firmness, and on extraordinary occasions it might be perfidiously abused.
  5. usurpation
    wrongfully seizing and holding by force
    In a single republic, all the power surrendered by the people is submitted to the administration of a single government; and the usurpations are guarded against by a division of the government into distinct and separate departments.
  6. compound
    composed of more than one part
    In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments.
  7. allot
    give out
    In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments.
  8. prevail
    prove superior
    The first method prevails in all governments possessing an hereditary or self-appointed authority.
  9. precarious
    not secure; beset with difficulties
    This, at best, is but a precarious security; because a power independent of the society may as well espouse the unjust views of the major, as the rightful interests of the minor party, and may possibly be turned against both parties.
  10. espouse
    take up the cause of someone and use it as one's own
    This, at best, is but a precarious security; because a power independent of the society may as well espouse the unjust views of the major, as the rightful interests of the minor party, and may possibly be turned against both parties.
Created on Fri May 30 13:21:46 EDT 2025

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