preview

Federalist Papers #10 Essay

Decent Essays

United we stand, divided we fall The Federalist Papers Number 10 is written by James Madison and explains the necessity of the Constitution to protect our country from factions. A faction is “a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent aggregate interests of the community (Publius, 72).” Publius states that there are two ways to get rid of factions. The first way to eliminate a faction is to take the Liberty away from all of the people in the faction. The other way to cure a faction is to give everyone the same opinion. Both of this solutions are not possible …show more content…

Publius states that it is not possible to smother a faction but what our country can do is control its effects. A republican form of government promises the cure of controlling factions. Through elected officials, the peoples voice will be channeled and there will be, “more consonant to the public good then if pronounced by the people themselves (Publius,77).” One way in which a republic deals with factions is the delegation of government to elected officials. The object of the elected officials is “to refine and enlarge the public views by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country (Publius,76).” This in effect will put the power of our country into the hands of qualified individuals. These individuals will be able to hear the voice of the people and decide what is the right decision for the country. Another way that a republic guards against a faction is expanding to include more people. In a large republic each representative will be chosen by a greater number of citizens. The greater number of citizens will make it more difficult for unworthy candidates to gain elected office. Elections are designed to allow people to choose the men that they want to be represented by. People are more likely to choose the man with the most attractive merit and the most established character thus preventing a man with vicious views to gain

Get Access