Short Essay III: The Mischief of Faction
Answer the question below, in an essay of approximately 500 words (no more than two pages typed out).
For this essay, you will need to consult some outside sources (at least two), so pay particular attention to
the citation guidelines laid out in the essay 1 assignment. Do not quote or paraphrase without proper
citation. If you quote the textbook, provide a page number.
This is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, August 13 (note new due date).
Your essay will be graded on its coherence, focus, thoughtfulness, and effective application of concepts
discussed in class, in the text, and in your sources.
The Question/Topic
In Federalist #10 (pp. A21-A25 of the text), James Madison discusses how the national republic
established by the Constitution would deal with the “violence of faction.” Summarize his argument,
focusing on the points in part A, and consider whether the supposed advantages of a large republic still
hold.
Part I: Summarizing Madison’s argument
Do not simply quote from Madison here – summarize and paraphrase.
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What are the two methods of “curing the mischief of faction?”
Why is the first method a “remedy… worse than the disease?”
In what sense are the “latent causes of faction … sown in the nature of man?” Summarize the
examples Madison gives (and give one of your own).
How does a republic deal with the effects of faction more effectively than does a democracy?
How does a large republic deal with these effective more effectively than a small one?
Part II: Assessing Madison’s argument
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How accurate and convincing do you think Madison’s argument was for its time?
o Do you think that Madison missed any significant causes or effects of faction?
o Do you think that he exaggerated the “mischief of faction?”
o Do you think that he wrote off democracy too easily as a remedy?
Does Madison’s argument make sense now?
o Consider the importance of political parties and interest groups in American politics:
have factions become institutionalized in parties, or extremely fragmented in interest
groups?
o Is the United States now too large of a republic for factions to be controlled?
Introduction to American Government
Frank H. Brooks
Spring 2013