Federalist Papers: 10 , 51

Question 1

What is the main idea of Federalist No. 10

Answer 1

• Factions do not have a realistic cure

- Separation of Power and federalism are the best ways to prevent factions

Question 2

Madison‘s Angel Analogy means…

Answer 2

Humans are less like angels, and more self-interested selfish devils. Which means they need a government to control those selfish acts

Question 3

What does Fed 10 say about the two cures for factions

Answer 3

• Remove liberties; however this is foolish because you would need to remove everyone’s liberty, and liberty is something you are born with, like air
• Have a country that is not diverse in thought, methods, or interests

Question 4

What is a faction?

Answer 4

A group of people who are self-interested and are united by a common impulse or passion, who wish to use the government and adverse citizens to achieve what they want. (Pluralism?)

Question 5

What are the two ways of limiting factions?

Answer 5

• Having a representative government which guards against cabals by vote
• Having a large republic In which: 1. Every representative is chosen by a large number of citizens 2. Has a large variety of parties and interests which makes it less probable for a majority to want to invade the rights of citizens.

Question 6

Why does Madison believe a republic is better?

Answer 6

• A direct democracy is too turbulent and there’s more room for “tyrannical” motives (tyranny of the majority)
• A republic is best as citizens may elect individuals who are more equipped and wise to discern the interests of “the country” (Which is interesting…)

Question 7

What is James Madison’s argument about small republic

Answer 7

a small democracy cannot avoid the dangers of majority faction because small size means that undesirable passions can very easily spread to a majority of the people, which can then enact its will through the democratic government without difficulty.

Question 8

What is Fed 51. Main idea

Answer 8

• Checks and balances

- the government must control the governed and must control itself

Question 9

Why is the legislative branch the most powerful form of government

Answer 9

• The legislative branch is the most powerful because it is the closest to the people, and the United States has a popular government, which means it is a government controlled by the people
• Solved by splitting the legislative branch into two

Question 10

Why must each branch of president be independent? What does that mean?

Answer 10

— independence ensures that branches stay separate (separation of powers) and distinct

— independent/ separate enough where the power of branches are not over-stepping boundaries (powers of other branches) and equal enough where not one branch has an abundance of power

Question 11

What is the reason for government according to Madison

Answer 11

• Madison’s angel analogy
• people in society and in government seek to promote their own self-interests, meaning there is a need for government AND checks and balances within government

Question 12

What is the best expedient for maintaining necessary partition of power among several departments?

Answer 12

• “Ambition must counteract Ambition”
• relates to Madison’s analogy to angels, where the self-interested ambitions of government officials must be pitted against each other so that every time, a compromise can be made that satisfies all ends.