Democracy

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Democracy
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Democracy

• Rule by the people
• Two crucial questions
• 1. What does it mean for the people to rule?
• 2. Who are the people?

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The Federalist Papers

• Written in 1787-8 by Alexander Hamilton, James
  Madison, and John Jay
• Pseudonym Publius
• During debates about Constitution
• Presents strong case for federalism and
  republicanism

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The argument of FP 10

• The problem of factions
• a number of citizens whether amounting to a
  majority or minority of the whole who are united
  and actuated by some common impulse or passion,
  or of interest, adverse to the rights of other
  citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate
  interest of the community.

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Two possible solutions

• 1. Remove the cause of factions
• by destroying liberty
• by ensuring all have same opinion
• 2. Controlling the effects of factions
• by creating a kind of democracy where their
  influence is lessened

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Dangers of factions

• Not dangerous when a minority, but only when a
  majority (?)
• the majority, having such coexistent passion or
  interest, must be rendered, by their number and
  local situation, unable to concert and carry into
  effect schemes of oppression.

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Republic vs. Democracy

• 1. In a republic governmental decisions are made
  by a small delegation representatives -- who
  are elected by the rest
• 2. A republic extends over a greater territory
  and greater number of citizens.

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Claim A Republic better deals with factions

• Public good more likely to be discussed in
  election of representatives.
• But, must carefully balance danger of majority
  coalitions against danger of confusion.

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Two main issues for democracy

• 1. What does it mean for the people to rule?
• 2. Who are the people?

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FP 54 Representation in House of Representatives

• How are slaves to be considered as property or
  as persons or compromise?
• Northern view slaves are property, therefore not
  persons and so not to be counted
• Southern view slaves are both
• Madisonian compromise slave 2/5 person