The Federalist Design for Balanced Government
The Federalists, through the Federalist Papers, championed a system of government with balanced powers to prevent tyranny and promote effective governance.1 Their key ideas included:
• Separation of Powers: Dividing governmental authority among three branches—legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (Supreme Court)—with distinct responsibilities.2
• Checks and Balances: Each branch has ways to limit the power of the other two, ensuring no single branch becomes dominant.3
• Federalism: Dividing powers between the federal and state governments, creating a balance between centralized authority and local autonomy.4