2305+-+Federalist+10+and+the+Republic

Power Points



Description: This is the first of a series of sections that focus on basic principles with the Constitution. The principle here is republicanism, which simply means indirect democracy. While "the people" form the basis for governmental authority, the actual operations of the government are delegated to institutions that are connected to the population and are periodically subject - through elections - to be accountable to the people (or the electorate to be more precise).

Why not have a direct democracy? That's why we look through Federalist #10. In it, Madison explains the deficiences of direct democracy and the advantages of having institutions act as intervening forces between the people and the law. Using history, Madison argues that factions (similar to what we would call interest groups) form inevitably in free societies and lead to instability. The institutions that republics establish provide stability in society and help secure the rights of the minority. This doesn't mean that society is peaceful, only that it is less likely to become chaotic.

As with other papers we will deal with, we will note that Madison has no illusions about human nature. He belives we are uncooperative by nature. We like to form into opposing groups and "vex and oppress" each other. This cannot be changed, but it can be addressed by making it difficult for permanent majorities to form. Doing so requires that we establish a system that actually encourages the development of interest groups. They are necessary components of the constitutional order. Understanding his point helps us understand the usefulness of conflict in the American system. There's method in the madness.

This section concludes by introducing criticisms of Madison's argument, specifically the fact that the well to do are in a better position to organize groups and successfully promote their interests than other groups. Since this takes us into a discussion of interest groups, much of this will be saved for that section.

Goals: After reading through the material above, you should be able to address the following questions:

Note: The assessment on this section will require you to fill in the blanks in key passages of Federalist #10, so please read through it. Its a tough read, but you can handle it.

- What is republicanism? What advantages is a republic argued to have over a direct - or pure - democracy? - Why was Madison concerned about direct democracy? - What is tyranny of the majority? Why are democracies especially subject to them? - What is a faction? Why do they form? What impact do they have on governance? What can and cannot be done about them? - What was Madison's solution to the problem of the violence of faction? What did he not advise? - What does Madison tell us about human nature? - What did Madison tell us about tyranny? Which level of government is most likely to become tyrannical? Why?

Key Terms:

- republic - representation - pure democracy - tyranny of the majority - faction - minority faction - majority faction - universal adult suffrage - majority rule - minority rights - excesses of democracy - human nature - self interest - impulse and opportunity