DBQ (revision sheet)

How did the constitution guard against tyranny? The constitution guards against tyranny with Federalism, Separation of powers, Checks and Balances, and Big States vs. Small States. The Federalist papers wrote a lot about Federalism, hence the name Federalist papers. The Federalist papers (Document A) states that: “The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.” This means that one branch of government won’t have absolute power, because its power is being divided by another branch of government. At the same time though, each branch of government will have its own powers, and be independent from the other branches. By making Federalism no branch of government can have absolute power, that makes no branch of government the absolute ruler, this is the opposite of tyranny. The Federalist papers (Document B) states: “Liberty requires that the three great departments of power should be separate and distinct.” This means separation of powers, the main idea is that three branches of the government will have their own powers, separated from the other branches. The Federalist papers (Document C) states: “(The three branches) should not be so far separated as to have no constitutional control over each other.” This means Checks and Balances, this statement states that the branches should not be so far apart that they can’t check each other. They should not be far apart because if they are they won’t be able to control each other, so not one branch can get to powerful. The Constitution, Article 1, Section 2 (Document D) states: “The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty