Federalist #10

Questions for Madison:

1. What are some of your reasons for supporting a stronger central government?
2. Throughout our nation's history, do you believe our government has done a good job protecting against groups with interest contrary to the goals of the government?
3. Do you think internal or external factions are more of a concern in today's world?
4. What are the differences between a republic and a democracy?
5. What do you think are the roles of a state government?

'"There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects." - Is Madison saying that he thinks the only ways to prevent opposition is to control a person's liberties and freedoms?

"No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity." - I like the way he says this. It clearly explains why there needs to be a separation of powers.

"The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended." -This is a new concept for me. I always have used "republic" and "democracy" interchangeably.


"By enlarging too much the number of electors, you render the representatives too little acquainted with all their local circumstances and lesser interests; as by reducing it too much, you render him unduly attached to these, and too little fit to comprehend and pursue great and national objects." - I like this quote because it emphasizes the importance of how important it is to find the middle ground with many things pertaining to the design of a government.

"From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction." - Does this mean that the term "democracy" only applies to a small society?