"If
a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is supplied by the
republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its sinister
views by regular vote. It may clog the administration, it may convulse
the society; but it will be unable to execute and mask its violence
under the forms of the Constitution. 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"(10)
Factions are a necessity in order for a nation to maintain political stability. The diversity and differentiation of opinions is what enables the system of democracy. The myriad of differences allows for many groups instead of the domination of one group. If there was one dominating faction or group, then the minority would lose rights and there would be an imbalance of powers. The differences between factions is actually one of our government’s strongest assets for it creates compromise and “interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens”. There will always be a minority group in our government, and it is crucial America allows them to exercise freedom to their desired extent as well. However, the spirit of democracy, which means the majority must have the say, also needs to be implemented. The only concern that arises is implementing a democratic system throughout a large nation. This is later solved by creating a representative for the majority of a faction. In our government today, we can see this present in congress and the senate.
“Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction” (10).
Madison utilizes the idea of liberty and faction similar to air and fire in order to exemplify the idea that a faction cannot exist without liberty as fire cannot exist without air. Without the need for liberty, there would be no need for a faction since a faction is a group of people working together to achieve the same liberty or goal. However, the idea of a faction is a positive thing for it allows the people’s input in our nation. Liberty is the foundation of our nation and is the what allows freedom of expression. On the other hand, the one problem that occurs is that everyones idea of freedom is different and to what extent can one express it. During this time, the nation was in the process of adopting the constitution, but they all had to debate what kind of liberty should be guaranteed to Americans. One must consider various factions in order not to abolish their complete liberty.
Factions are a necessity in order for a nation to maintain political stability. The diversity and differentiation of opinions is what enables the system of democracy. The myriad of differences allows for many groups instead of the domination of one group. If there was one dominating faction or group, then the minority would lose rights and there would be an imbalance of powers. The differences between factions is actually one of our government’s strongest assets for it creates compromise and “interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens”. There will always be a minority group in our government, and it is crucial America allows them to exercise freedom to their desired extent as well. However, the spirit of democracy, which means the majority must have the say, also needs to be implemented. The only concern that arises is implementing a democratic system throughout a large nation. This is later solved by creating a representative for the majority of a faction. In our government today, we can see this present in congress and the senate.
“Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction” (10).
Madison utilizes the idea of liberty and faction similar to air and fire in order to exemplify the idea that a faction cannot exist without liberty as fire cannot exist without air. Without the need for liberty, there would be no need for a faction since a faction is a group of people working together to achieve the same liberty or goal. However, the idea of a faction is a positive thing for it allows the people’s input in our nation. Liberty is the foundation of our nation and is the what allows freedom of expression. On the other hand, the one problem that occurs is that everyones idea of freedom is different and to what extent can one express it. During this time, the nation was in the process of adopting the constitution, but they all had to debate what kind of liberty should be guaranteed to Americans. One must consider various factions in order not to abolish their complete liberty.
"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."(51)
Our government needs a separation of power in order to preserve liberty. Power spread out evenly between different branches of government ensures that the liberty of the people cannot be taken away by a majority, dominating force. This creates the idea of a republic. When the passage states, “...a will of its own” it depicts the idea that each branch of government must not collaborate with other branches and must work within itself. This creates a pure separation of power and prevents one branch from having control over the others; control should be obliged to all three. In today’s government, we have the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Through checks and balances and even distribution of power, they are able to keep liberty to the people to a great extent.
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).
Each branch of government must continue to be proactive and not allow one branch to be more influential and powerful than the other. The United States government works because our power is divided. If one branch does not have the ambition and utilize it, then the other two branches would withhold more power and the division within our society would not be balanced and create a system that does not fully represent all the people and their different liberties. The statement, “It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of the government,” describes the idea that restrictions and limits must exist in each branch in order to prevent the abuse of government by the people and the representatives.
Our government needs a separation of power in order to preserve liberty. Power spread out evenly between different branches of government ensures that the liberty of the people cannot be taken away by a majority, dominating force. This creates the idea of a republic. When the passage states, “...a will of its own” it depicts the idea that each branch of government must not collaborate with other branches and must work within itself. This creates a pure separation of power and prevents one branch from having control over the others; control should be obliged to all three. In today’s government, we have the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Through checks and balances and even distribution of power, they are able to keep liberty to the people to a great extent.
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).
Each branch of government must continue to be proactive and not allow one branch to be more influential and powerful than the other. The United States government works because our power is divided. If one branch does not have the ambition and utilize it, then the other two branches would withhold more power and the division within our society would not be balanced and create a system that does not fully represent all the people and their different liberties. The statement, “It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of the government,” describes the idea that restrictions and limits must exist in each branch in order to prevent the abuse of government by the people and the representatives.
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