Congress: Readings Flashcards
What was the charge against the House of Representatives? Why was this charge dangerous in Madison’s words?
(Fed 57)
It would be taken from that class of citizens to increase the power of the few. Making a “pretended oligarchy.”
What Constitutional features of the House proved the charge wrong? (Fed 57)
The electors of the representatives
What were the securities that guarantee the representatives are accountable to the voters? (Fed 57)
- election is based on the people’s preference of character
- they are in service to their supporters.
- they would function honorably to maintain their position of favor
- limited time in power (frequent elections).
What was the most important check of all? (Fed 57)
they cannot make a law that doesn’t apply to themselves
How does the Senate prepare one to attend to complex and gradual policies versus simple and immediate policies? (Fed 63)
Longer terms. (?? guys is this right??)
What does Publius say about the “cool and deliberate sense of the community?” (fed 63)
Athens suffered from a mob rule that led to the death of Socrates. Instead of irregular passion, he believed in a democracy with composed and logical conclusions.
Why did this paper refer to the people of Athens, “decreeing to the same citizens the hemlock on one day and statues on the next?” What was the purpose of mentioning this? Who were they referring to? (fed 63)
He used the example of Athens’ mob rule and the death of Socrates to support the implementation of the Senate, designed to prevent the United States from falling into similar instability.
