Federalism

Question 1

Why articles of confederation failed

Answer 1

National gov had no power to tax
No independent leadership position to direct the gov
National gov couldn’t regulate interstate and foreign commerce

Question 2

Fight for ratification

Answer 2

Opposing groups- Federalists and Antifederalists squared off against one another in 13 diff state wide campaigns over the ratification f the constitution

Question 3

Federalists

Answer 3

Property owners
Favoured stronger central gov
Feared excessive democracy and promotion of political elites

Question 4

Antifederalists

Answer 4

Small farmers
Favoured retaining power in state gov
Generally more democratic

Question 5

Why was federalist 10 written

Answer 5

To counter the argument that democracies inevitably dissolve into turmoil and disorder caused by factions which ignore the national interest in favour of their own interests

Question 6

Motivating concern

Answer 6

Aligning human nature (with its selfish impulses) towards the common good

Question 7

What is a faction

Answer 7

Number of citizens, either minority/majority that is united by a common impulse/passion adverse to the rights of other citizens/the best interest of the community

Question 8

What did M argue?

Answer 8

A strong big Republic would be a better guard against dangers of factions

Question 9

What causes a faction

Answer 9

Unequal distribution of property

Question 10

Why are factions a problem

Answer 10

Most powerful faction will control the gov and make decisions based not on the common good, but to benefit itself
Other groups and common good will suffer

Question 11

M’s view on direct democracy

Answer 11

A danger to individual rights
-advocated a representative democracy to protect individual liberty from majority rule/ effects of inequality within society

Question 12

Dilemma of pure democracy

Answer 12

People assemble and administer the gov in person
Pure democracy can only exist in small geographical area
Inevitably fall victim to mischief of faction
They fail because they’re unable to protect individual liberty and rights of property

Question 13

Would removing the causes of faction solve the problem

Answer 13

No

Question 14

Removing factions: destroying Liberty

Answer 14

Impossible to perform

Liberty is essential to political life

Question 15

Removing factions: creating society homogenous in opinions and interests

Answer 15

Impractical

Economic stratification prevents everyone from sharing the same opinion

Question 16

What is the only way to reduce damage caused by a faction?

Answer 16

Limited only by controlling its effects

Question 17

Where does the main problem of a faction come from

Answer 17

The majority faction

Question 18

2 ways to check majority factions

Answer 18

1) prevent the existence of the same passion/interest in a majority at the same time
2) render a majority faction unable to act

Question 19

Problems with a small democracy

Answer 19

Can’t avoid the dangers of majority faction

• small size means undesirable passions= very easily spread to majority of people
• -can then easily spread through democratic gov without difficulty

Question 20

Confederation

Answer 20

An organisation which consists of a number of parties/groups United in an alliance
Loose association of independent states that agree to cooperate on specified matters
-each state has supreme power within its border
-central government is weak

Question 21

Republic

Answer 21

Citizens elect representatives to make policy decisions and administer the gov on their behalf
Common people’s decisions are affected by self-interest

Question 22

Advantages of a large republic

Answer 22

Provides bigger candidate pool from which to select fit leaders
Large electorate is less likely to select undesirable leaders than is small
Larger territory will include greater diversity of interests
Majority faction is unlikely to emerge

Question 23

Dilemma of district size

Answer 23

Large electoral district- representative may be too little acquainted with local interests to represent them effectively

Question 24

Federalist 51: why do we need separation of powers

Answer 24

Individuals given power will use it for personal advantage

Members of each department should be as little dependent as possible from each other

Question 25

What aims must a constitution balance between

Answer 25

1) sufficient capacity for governance

2) effective control over the leadership

Question 26

Auxiliary precautions

Answer 26

Checks and balances

Federalism

Question 27

Auxiliary precautions: checks and balances

Answer 27

Allow for a system based regulation that allows 1 branch to limit another
BUT: may limit opp for change
Exacerbated by supermajorities needed to achieve cloture in the senate (filibuster)

Question 28

Madison’s dystopian utopia

Answer 28

Factions= bad
Lots of (bad) factions = good