James Madison

Federalist #10

James Madison

The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written in support of the US Constitution. In Federalist #10, Madison is specifically writing in support of the way the US House of Representatives is set up, arguing that it will help to establish a stable democratic government.

Study Questions:

1.  Define faction—

2.  What is the most common source of factions?

3.  Madison is not worried “if a faction consists of less than a majority.” Why not?

4.  He feels that a pure democracy will always be short lived. Why?

5.  In discussing representatives in a republic, Madison presents two scenarios,

--one good

--and one bad

6.  How are we assured that in a republic, our representatives will be “men who possess the most attractive merit”?

7.  What examples of dangerous factious ideas does he give in the penultimate paragraph?