Dbq Essay On Tyranny

“The accumulation of all powers... in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many (is) the very definition of tyranny.” According to James Madison, Tyranny shouldn’t only be able to define just a singular person but can also define a group of people with an overwhelming amount of power. In order to protect the rights of the citizens the constitution was framed in such a way that makes it extremely difficult for a person or group of people to seize complete control over the government since the powers are divided between the states and the federal government, and divided again within each category in order to disperse the powers in order to better prevent tyranny.
The first distinct division that the constitution frames is a separation of state and federal powers. The division of state and federal powers create a uniting power in order to control the state governments from an uprising and prevent the federal government from completely controlling the state powers. In

federalists paper #51 James Madison states “Hence a double security arises to the rights of people” (Doc A). In addition, the powers divided between the central government and the state government are further split up into other branches of government. Although many powers such as the regulation of trade or regulate in-state businesses are powers that are divided between the state and central government there are also shared powers that can be enforced such as the process of making state or federal laws and enforcing them (Doc A). This shows that despite the separation of powers, some powers should be implemented throughout both state and central government platforms.
The second distinct division that the constitution frames is the separation of powers between the legislative, judiciary, and executive branches.

In order to prevent the development of tyranny “liberty requires that the three great departments of power should be separate and distinct” (Doc B). James Madison in Federalist Paper #47 stated that the three branches, executive, judicial, and legislative, were necessary in order to prevent the collection of power. In Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Constitution of the United States of America, it essentially details the division of powers to Congress, the President of the United States, and Supreme and inferior courts (Doc B). These articles detail restrictions that are given to each branch such as the term restriction for the president, the division of Congress between the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the holding of office in the judicial branch only under good behavior. The articles give a synopsis of what each branch is entitled

to.
Lastly, checks and balances are what keep the 3 branches working properly together. To prevent the development of tyranny the 3 distinct branches of government carry powers that oppose the other 2 branches, allowing for preventative measures when one branch may abuse their powers. “The constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that they may be a check on the other…” (Doc C). This quote from document C showcases the idea through Federalist Paper #51 by James Madison.