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What does James Madison call the factions?
Particularly focus on Article #'s 9 and 10, in which James Madison mentions what he calls "factions". You'll see that Madison had an almost eerie grasp of reality and human nature. Madison described factions as "a number of citizens, whether amounting to a minority or majority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse ...
What are some examples of modern day factions?
Lets start with the most obvious example of modern day faction; the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party. No one these days agrees on much, but I think we can all agree that the ideological divides between the two parties is the chief reason that nothing has been done, or will be done, in Congress, regardless of who is President. It used to be that the two parties could get along fairly well together. Remember Ronald Reagan and Tip O'neill? The two men were right old pals, despite their disagreements.
Why are factions a threat to American democracy?
Why are factions a threat to American democracy? Because, in all of the political infighting and cutthroat style maneuvering in Washington, the best interests of most Americans are being ignored. Did you know that, when President Obama originally presented his Health Care Reform bill, he was told by Karen Ignagni* that, in order to get health insurance companies to back him, he had to support the individual mandate, which Obama had opposed during the campaign? The result was that, in all of the kerfuffle over the bill, those who supported the public option were ignored.
What was the result of the kerfuffle over the bill?
The result was that, in all of the kerfuffle over the bill, those who supported the public option were ignored. It is a part of human nature for people to join with those who share their political views, and to form groups to protect their self-interests.
Did James Madison have a shortage of interest groups?
James Madison was probably thinking a lot more about political parties when he wrote his articles, but he implied other factions as well. There was, after all, no shortage of interest groups in his day. There never has been such a shortage. Interest groups are a key part in how Washington D.C functions. Interest groups try their hardest to influence the outcomes of any legislation that goes before Congress; Some groups vouch for said legislation while others try their best to prevent its being passed.
What did Madison believe about factions?
Madison believed factions were inevitable. However he argued that the country was so large and with such a diverse set of interest that not one faction would dominate . In fact he argued that the factions would counter each other out.
Why did Madison believe that factions are dangerous in small republics?
Madison only believed factions are dangerous in small republics because within a small republic a single faction could likely gain unfettered control over the levers of government power. No faction is dangerous if it doesn't have power but any faction is dangerous if it has unlimited control of power. Madison's idea was to have a larger republic so that no single faction would ever be large enough to be able to gain control of all the power within the federal government. He saw a virtue in having many different religions, different political parties, etc. all participating in the civic governa
What did Madison fear about the Constitution?
He feared factions would rob individuals of their independent thinking and create group think. Fast forward from 1787 to 1792. Madison pushed the new Constitution to be ratified. Those who supported the Constitution were known as Federalists and those who opposed the Constitution were known as Anti-Federalists. Essentially, they were the US two first political parties. In 1789 Washington took office and proclaimed to be politically neutral. From then to the end of 1792 Washington supported every Federalist policy Hamilton presented over the objections of both Jefferson and Madison. It got so bad when Washington issued his Neutrality Declaration Jefferson resigned as Secretary of State and formed the Democratic Republican Party with Madison the speaker of the House. They began a mud slinging campaign against Washington and the Federalists even though Washington claimed to be apolitical. If he walks, talks and acts like a Federalist then he is a Federalist. So Madison who had warned against factions actually became the co-creater of the first opposition political party. Madison and Jefferson found that in 1800 you could defeat a faction by creating an opposing faction.
What did Madison fear?
He feared factions would rob individuals of their independent thinking and create group think. Fast forward from 1787 to 1792. Madison pushed the new Constitution to be ratified. Those who supported the Constitution were known as Federalists and those who opposed the Constitution were known as Anti-Federalists. Essentially, they were the US two first political parties. In 1789 Washington took office and proclaimed to be politically neutral. From then to the end of 1792 Washington supported every Federalist policy Hamilton presented over the objections of both Jefferson and Madison. It got so b
What did Madison believe about the checks and balances?
Madison believed that each faction would have its own interests and biases, but a system of checks and balances would result in no faction asserting under influence for too long — but instead, the interests of different groups would “cancel each other out ,” so to speak.
What did Madison know about the flawed character of man?
In addition, Madison knew from his studies at the College of New Jersey that the flawed character of man could lead to the formation of these factions, where a vision of what is best for the society become myopic: “The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man.”
What does "the people" mean in the Constitution?
Elsewhere in the Constitution and Amendments, “the people” means the general citizens as opposed to officers of the Federal or State governments. The phrase occurs several times in the Bill of Rights, and in each case reading it as applying only to people in direct government office or employment would lend extremely tyrannical overtones. There should be no serious question that “keep” means own and posses, and “bear” means carry. To read that “Arms” means upper body appendages rather than weapons is to resort to mere fatuity.
What did Madison do instead of expecting Americans to act as angels?
So instead of expecting Americans to act as angels, Mr. Madison allowed them to act as humans. And he established a government whose very structure would encourage the growth of factions. "Extend the sphere, and you take in a great variety of parties and interests.
What is a faction?
A faction is a group of citizens (minority or majority, although the majority is what worried Madison) who "are united by some impulse or passion, or interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. ". Now, our very nature insists upon the rise of factions.
Who invoked the founding father's name?
How James Madison's bones must have moaned the other night when President Reagan invoked the Founding Father's name {"Reagan Assails 'Washington Colony'," Dec. 14}. The president alluded to Federalist Paper No. 10 and warned his appointees of the insidious rise of factions, namely Congress, the media and special interest groups ...
What is the argument of Madison?
Madison formulates an important argument in favor of the government presented by the Constitution. The Federalist No. 10 makes great claims in favor of the new constitution. Madison established the new government as one of the only methods in preventing the oppression of factions. The article made important assertions in the prevention of tranny ...
What does James Madison argue about the size of the government?
With comparison between a small and large government, James Madison argues that a larger government, like the one proposed by the new United States Constitution, would protect from the tyranny of the majority that would likely be the result of maintaining a small government.
Why did James Madison write Federalist No. 10?
James Madison wrote The Federalist No. 10 to inform the people about the problems and possible solutions for the formation of factions. Through multiple statements concerning the dangers of factions and the benefits of a republic, Madison’s major argument was in favor of the United States Constitution. Madison defined a faction as "A number of citizens, whether amounting to a minority or majority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion or interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community." (Madison p. 1) Factions can be compared to the modern day lobby group; or as groups of people with a common self-interest. These groups are only involved for…show more content…
What was James Madison's greatest contribution to the United States?
An argument can be made that James Madison was the most influential of our founding fathers through him promoting the United States Constitution for ratification through the writing of the Federalist Papers, drafting as well as promoting the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution, as well as being responsible for the creation of what is known
Why did Ellis think the founding of the United States was phenomenal?
The Generation 1) Ellis sees the founding of the United States as phenomenal because the U.S. brought together people of all different factions and beliefs in order to overthrow the reigning regime. He also believes it is phenomenal because the United States was able to survive and become a nation that was brought up upon an argument between state and federal sovereignty. In addition, to fight in the revolution and win against Britain’s best army and navy, the U.S. had to carve its own path with
What were the two main political parties that emerged after independence?
independence, two main political factions emerged: the Republicans and the Federalists. The Republicans, scarred by the overbearing British government, advocated for a weak federal government with individual state governments, which prevented the concentration of power in a single party and promoted a form of more direct representation. However, this system proved to be ineffective, for the federal government’s lack of power was dangerous and inefficient. The Federalists, on the other hand, supported
What is Madison's cure to the dangerous violence of faction?
By Lee Cary. The maxim "divide-and-conquer" brings conflict to both military and political venues. As a military strategy, it can work to bring victory. As a political strategy, it can backfire -- upon both the initiator and the nation.
What happens when a majority is included in a faction?
When a majority is included in a faction, the form of popular government, on the other hand, enables it to sacrifice to its ruling passion or interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens.
What is the inference to which we are brought?
The inference to which we are brought is that the causes of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects.". The solution is, therefore, not in persons but in the representative processes of a republic.
What was the great "desideratum by which this form of government can be rescued"?
The great "desideratum by which this form of government can be rescued" was, according to Madison, in building and sustaining a republic - rather than a democracy. (The OWS crowds that chant "This is what democracy looks like" clearly don't understand the difference.)
What is a common passion?
A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual.
When the small number of citizens to whom stewardship of the government is delegated fails to represent the greater?
When the small number of citizens to whom stewardship of the government is delegated fails to represent the greater number of citizens, then the remedy is at the ballot box.
Can a military strategy backfire?
As a military strategy, it can work to bring victory. As a political strategy, it can backfire -- upon both the initiator and the nation.
What were Jefferson and Hamilton's political parties?
With Jefferson as secretary of state and Hamilton as Treasury secretary, two competing visions for America developed into the nation’s first two political parties. Supporters of Hamilton’s vision of a strong central government—many of whom were Northern businessmen, bankers and merchants who leaned toward England when it came to foreign affairs—would become known as the Federalists. Jefferson, on the other hand, favored limited federal government and keeping power in state and local hands. His supporters tended to be small farmers, artisans and Southern planters who traded with the French, and were sympathetic to France.
Who viewed political parties as a necessary evil?
The Constitution's framers viewed political parties as a necessary evil. Author: Sarah Pruitt. Today, it may seem impossible to imagine the U.S. government without its two leading political parties, Democrats and Republicans. But in 1787, when delegates to the Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia to hash out the foundations ...
Why did the Framers of the New Constitution want to avoid divisions?
The framers of the new Constitution desperately wanted to avoid the divisions that had ripped England apart in the bloody civil wars of the 17th century. Many of them saw parties—or “factions,” as they called them—as corrupt relics of the monarchical British system that they wanted to discard in favor of a truly democratic government.
When did the two party system start?
While the Federalists would never win another presidential election, and disappeared for good after the War of 1812, the two-party system revived itself with the rise of Andrew Jackson’s Democratic Party by the 1830s and firmly solidified in the 1850s, after the founding of the Republican Party. Though the parties’ identities and regional identifications would shift greatly over time, the two-party system we know today had fallen into place by 1860—even as the nation stood poised on the brink of the very civil war that Washington and the other Founding Fathers had desperately wanted to avoid.
Who was the first president to have two political parties?
George Washington (seated right) in consultation with Thomas Jefferson (seated left) and Alexander Hamilton. With Jefferson as secretary of state and Hamilton as Treasury secretary, two competing visions for America developed into the nation’s first two political parties.
When did the Constitutional Convention have to have political parties?
But in 1787, when delegates to the Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia to hash out the foundations of their new government, they entirely omitted political parties from the new nation’s founding document. This was no accident.
What was James Madison's role in the Revolution?
In the spring of 1776 he served on a committee preparing a Declaration of Rights for Virginia’s new constitution.
What was Madison concerned about?
But Madison was equally concerned with remedying the internal injustices of states, the tendency of state-level majorities to violate the rights of individuals and minorities. (Image via Library of Congress, painted by Charles Wilson Peale in 1783, public domain)
Why did James Madison fail to include a veto in the Constitution?
Despite his concerns, Madison failed in his attempt to include in the Constitution a federal veto on state laws in order “to secure individuals against encroachments on their rights.” Nevertheless, during the ratification debate Madison claimed that the federal government under the proposed Constitution would better protect the rights of individuals and minorities, because (as he argued in Federalist No. 10) national legislation would be crafted by more political parties and interests than existed within the states, making it more difficult for any one faction to carry out its “plans of oppression.” Madison was especially concerned with violation of property rights, but he also spoke of religious zeal as a dangerous source of conflict and oppression.
What did James Madison think of the Religious Assessment Bill?
Madison considered the bill a “dangerous abuse of power”; he reasoned that if government could establish Christianity over other religions, then it would also have the power to elevate one Christian group over another. Madison believed that religion was a matter of individual conscience and that giving legislators control over religious belief would inevitably lead to violation of other basic rights: “It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties.” Madison succeeded in defeating the religious assessment bill and then spearheaded passage, in 1786, of Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
How many terms did James Madison serve?
In the early days of the republic, Madison served as secretary of state under Thomas Jefferson. He then served as President himself for two terms. His presidency (1809–1817) was clouded by his failure adequately to prepare the country for the War of 1812, but he demonstrated his commitment to the First Amendment by refusing to muzzle the press despite intense domestic opposition to the war. He also vetoed two pieces of legislation that he considered unconstitutional financial support for religious institutions.
What did James Madison do for Virginia?
Madison's helped prepare a Declaration of Rights for Virginia's constitution. Madison was born to a well-established Virginia planter family. In 1769 he enrolled at the College of New Jersey (later Princeton) and came under the intellectual and political influence of the college’s new president, John Witherspoon, ...
What was James Madison's first political pamphlet?
He then served in the Virginia Assembly, where, in 1785, he produced his first great political pamphlet, the “ Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments .” The target of the pamphlet was a bill before the Virginia Assembly supported by Gov. Patrick Henry that would have laid a general tax to pay Christian teachers a modest salary. The bill would not have established any one denomination (all Christian churches were eligible for the funds), but it would have made Christianity the established religion of the state.
