"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. 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. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions" (The Federalist Paper No.10).
"A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and promises the cure for which we are seeking. Let us examine the points in which it varies from pure democracy, and we shall comprehend both the nature of the cure and the efficacy which it must derive from the Union" (The Federalist Paper No.10).
In this section James Madison is depicting the negatives that are held within the formation of a pure democratic society. Within a pure democracy there is the notion that all people of the society are able to display their wants and needs, but in reality the rights of property and personal security are diminished within this form of government. "A common passion or interest in will..........be felt by the majority of the whole," this is the gist of what a democratic republic is based upon. While in a pure democracy, "there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual," we have to account for those that do not agree with the majority and wish to seek a different consensus. The pure democratic system does not allow for any influences upon the decision by and citizen as a result those that do not agree with the majority will have their view in account when a decision is made. Politicians have celebrated a pure democracy as the perfection of government where there is no indifference of views within a population. This could be achieved if humans are perfect and could function in a Utopian manner. As a result of mankind imperfections and disagreements a pure democratic government, if were to be ever installed, would not function and fail. In turn this proves the fact that a republican government is the route to take and is the best possible solution for all citizens in the United States of America to be represented fairly.
"In order to lay a due foundation for that separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government, which to a certain extent is admitted on all hands to be essential to the preservation of liberty, it is evident that each department should have a will of its own; and consequently should be so constituted that the members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others. Were this principle rigorously adhered to, it would require that all the appointments for the supreme executive, legislative, and judiciary magistrates should be drawn from the same fountain of authority, the people, through channels having no communication whatever with one another" (The Federalist Paper No.51).
"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary" (The Federalist Paper No.51).
In the first article it is addressed towards the formation of a Republican government with three branches: the judicial, constitutional, and legislative. This form of government is a consolidated formation of a pure democratic government because it represents the majority of the people and strays away from any disputes with the minority that disagrees. The three branches are not allowed to speak or coordinate with one another since their main communication should be from the people which is the "fountain of authority". Every mans interest shall be represented in the form of this new government and that the magistrates will adhere purely to the peoples demands. "But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary," government is essentially created to lead and represent the peoples rights in the best of its ability. This same idea is attached to government, "such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government" in order for people to not abuse the system of government and to positively insure that the government adheres to the peoples rights there are numerous restrictions on each branch.
In your second paragraph you are correct regarding that the government's duty is to lead and represent the people it rules, but I would also argue that a main duty is to protect the rights of it's citizens
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ReplyDeleteOverall, your explanations and analysis of the quotes was very clear. I like how you included specific parts of the passages in your analysis, to add them in as additional support. Your explanation of the 3 branches of the government and the relationship between them in the Federalist No. 51 was thorough.
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