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Federalist No. 10: Difference between revisions
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* Madison here outlines the purpose of the "republican" form of government in the proposed Constitution | * Madison here outlines the purpose of the "republican" form of government in the proposed Constitution | ||
** "relief" to the effects of faction is provided by the "republican principle"" | ** for "relief" to the effects of faction is provided by the "republican principle"" | ||
*** the "republican principle" = popular government (elected by the people) with competing powers within that government, i.e.: | |||
**** separate branches | |||
**** checks & balances | |||
** to protect a minority from abuse by the majority | |||
*** his logic here is that a "when a majority faction" is elected, it is more likely to | |||
**** succumb to its "ruling passion" (i.e. serve it's own interests) | |||
**** and thereby "sacrifice... both the public good and the rights of other citizens" | |||
* Madison calls the protection of the minority from the "ruling passion" of a majority the "great object" of his "inquiry" | |||
* vocabulary: | |||
** "desideratum" = something needed | |||
** "opprobrium" = harsh criticism or censure | |||
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|<big>By what means is this object attainable? Evidently by one of two only. Either the existence of the same passion or interest in a majority at the same time must be prevented, or the majority, having such coexistent passion or interest, must be rendered, by their number and local situation, unable to concert and carry into effect schemes of oppression. If the impulse and the opportunity be suffered to coincide, we well know that neither moral nor religious motives can be relied on as an adequate control. They are not found to be such on the injustice and violence of individuals, and lose their efficacy in proportion to the number combined together, that is, in proportion as their efficacy becomes needful.</big> | |<big>By what means is this object attainable? Evidently by one of two only. Either the existence of the same passion or interest in a majority at the same time must be prevented, or the majority, having such coexistent passion or interest, must be rendered, by their number and local situation, unable to concert and carry into effect schemes of oppression. If the impulse and the opportunity be suffered to coincide, we well know that neither moral nor religious motives can be relied on as an adequate control. They are not found to be such on the injustice and violence of individuals, and lose their efficacy in proportion to the number combined together, that is, in proportion as their efficacy becomes needful.</big> | ||