Final answer:
The principle of government discussed in the excerpts supporting the ratification of the U.S. Constitution is Republicanism, which involves deriving power from the people and electing representatives to serve for limited terms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principle of government that the author uses to support the ratification of the U.S. Constitution is Republicanism. James Madison's view, as illustrated in the excerpts, emphasizes that a Republican government derives its power from the people, either directly or indirectly, and is administered by those who are elected to serve for a limited time or based on good behavior. This definition matches with republicanism, which is founded on the idea that the government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. Representatives are chosen by the people to wield power on their behalf. The U.S. Constitution institutionalizes this by setting up a structure where the House of Representatives is directly elected by the people, and other branches such as the Senate, President, and judiciary are chosen through a combination of direct and indirect elections, all reflecting the will of the people. The constitutional framework ensures there is no hereditary class that retains governing power, further strengthening the principle of republicanism.