Understanding Federalist 51 NT Chp 3

Question Occasionally, people unhappy with a particular judicial decision propose changing the Constitution to deny federal judges lifetime appoints. Instead, they would require that judges face periodic reappointment. How would Madison react to that sort of proposal? 41 7/23/2024 Answer Madison would likely oppose the periodic reappointment of federal judges because it would undermine the independence of the judicial branch of government from the executive and legislative branches. 42 7/23/2024 Question President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 at the height of the Watergate scandal in the face of likely impeachment and removal by the Congress. Would Madison have considered this development a triumph for the Constitution or a defeat? 43 7/23/2024 Answer President Nixon was accused of abusing the powers of his office. Congress provided a check and balance on the president when it began the impeachment process. Madison would have declared that the entire episode demonstrated the effectiveness of the constitutional system for preventing any one branch from growing too powerful. 44 7/23/2024 Question How does checks and balances protect liberty? 45 7/23/2024 Answer Checks and balances helps preserve liberty because it is designed to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. Because of checks and balances, the powers of government overlap. Consequently, if one branch tries to become too powerful, the members of the other branches have an incentive to keep the first branch in check. 46 7/23/2024 Discussion question According to Madison, does the success of the Constitution depend on the honesty and good nature of the president, members of Congress, and judges? Discuss. 47 7/23/2024 Discussion question During the George W. Bush administration, Senate Democrats blocked several of the president’s judicial nominees on the grounds that their political views were extreme. Is this the sort of political conflict that Madison would have anticipated? Would he have approved of it? 48 7/23/2024 Discussion question How does dividing Congress into two branches diminish the danger of legislative domination of the government? Explain. 49 7/23/2024