Download Federalist 10 and the U.S. Constitution: Madison`s Bridging of

Federalist 10 and the U.S. Constitution: Madison's
Bridging of Classical and Modern Political Thought.
What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no
government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on
government would be necessary.
--James Madison, Federalist 47
I. Understanding the Founders: The Thesis of Timeless Wisdom vs. Thesis of
Particular Wisdom?1
II.
•
Timeless Wisdom: Attributes almost superhuman mental powers both to the
Framers and to the Federalist Papers and the timelessness of their political
creation.
•
Particular Wisdom: The writers of the Federalists Papers merely reflect the
wisdom of their particular time and place (e.g., Enlightenment thought).
•
In either case, what is put forward is the contrivance of a unique “political
system.”
•
This political system embodies elements of both classical Greco-Roman and
modern political thought.
America’s Political Heritage: Classical Republicanism and Liberalism
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Two Regime Types: The Classical Republic and the Modern, Liberal State
•
Classical Republicanism:
o The salient political unit: the political community (e.g., the polis).
§ Ideally, just large enough so as to allow the full participation in
public decisions by its qualified citizens.
o Citizens share in self-government:
§ Deliberating over the “common good” and the destiny of the
political community (i.e., articulating “first principles”).
o Requires Citizen’s Knowledge of Public Affairs (i.e., an “alert and
knowledgeable citizenry”).
o Attempts to engenders a sense of belonging to a community larger than
one’s self:
1
See J.S. McClelland A History of Western Political Thought, (Routledge: 1996)
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§ Concern for the whole political community (not simply one’s
private affairs).
§ A moral bond within the community, a fate in which all have a
stake.
§ Self-government requires that citizens possess or come to acquire
certain qualities of character, or “civic virtue.”
o Freedom: requires a formative politics or the “positive” role of the state—
that is, a political culture that cultivates in its citizens certain qualities or a
requisite character conducive to self-government.
•
The Modern, Liberal State:
o The salient political unit: the autonomous individual.
o Attempts the construction of a neutral social, political and legal
framework:
§ Neutral toward the religious or moral values of its citizens.
§ Engenders a condition in which no particular “way of life” is
favored over any others.
§ No particular conception of the “good” (life) is favored.
§ Protection from arbitrary authority:
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Government by consent of the governed
•
Rule of law
o “Negative” role of the state—state exists merely to protect fundamental
rights.
o Freedom: Negatively conceived—i.e., the absence of coercion in the
individual’s “private sphere” of thought and action.
o Limited Government: to provide security, protect rights, and allow
individuals to be free to pursue the unlimited acquisition of wealth, “selfrealization,” etc., all within a minimum framework of law.
III. Madison’s Federalist 10: Bridging the Pre-modern and the Modern
•
Madison’s Modern Scientific Approach: Concern is with the social basis of
American Politics (e.g., beyond “first principles” of government, towards a more
pragmatic understanding of human behavior—all the while attempting to secure the
benefits of republicanism).
•
Focus is on “factions”—i.e, special interests which are generally opposed to, or out
of sync with the public good.
•
Factions detrimental to the “animating spirit” of a republic.
2
•
How do we limit the negative consequences of factions while at the same time
maintaining limited government, while at the same time enjoying a republican form
of government?
IV. Construction of the American Political System: One System, Two Regimes
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Pluralism (or interest-group politics): Containing Factionalism
o
•
Federalist 10: A republic so diverse and the number of factions so large
that it is impossible for one faction to dominate the rest.
Federalism—A system of government in which power is divided between a central
authority and constituent political units.
o
Factions spread across the national, regional, state, and local levels.
•
Combined with popular representation, federalism meant that all these factions
would have to bargain and compromise with the rest at the local, state and,
eventually, the national level.
•
The crucial argument of the Federalist Papers: the need for a federal republic
comprised of the separate sovereignties of the individual states so that the United
States could be extensive in territory and enjoy the good fortunes of republican
institutions as well.
V. Federalism’s Enlightenment Roots: Self-Regulated Society
1. Self-Regulated Balance of Society (e.g., Lockean “natural harmony’)
•
Correlates with Newtonian Laws (popular at the time for understanding all
aspects of physical and social phenomenon)
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Mechanistic-materialist worldview
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Self-interest the organizing principle—of both individual’s and groups.
2. Self-regulated government
•
•
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Separation of powers: Institutional balance—e.g., legislative, executive and
judicial
Pluralism: pluralistic balance of values—interest groups, factions, etc.
Federalism: Jurisdictional balance—e.g., federal vs. state
3. Self-regulated Economy
•
The Free-market
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