Melissa Boatswain
POL-100
Self-Assessment Exercise 6.3
- What is a faction? A faction is defined as a group of citizens, whether a majority or
minority, united by a common impulse of passion or interest that is adverse to the rights
of other citizens or the broader interests of the community. Factions can arise from
various motivations, including economic interests, political agendas, or social issues, and
they often seek to promote their own goals at the expense of others. - What are the two methods of controlling factions? The two methods of controlling
factions are:
Removing the causes of faction: This involves eliminating the underlying issues
that lead to the formation of factions, such as differing opinions or economic
disparities.
Controlling the effects of factions: This method focuses on mitigating the
negative impacts of factions rather than trying to eliminate their causes. - The two methods of removing the causes of factions? The two methods of removing
the causes of factions are:
Destroying liberty: This approach suggests that eliminating the freedoms that
allow factions to form would remove the faction itself. However, this is deemed
worse than the problem of factionalism, as liberty is essential to political life.
Creating uniformity of opinions, passions, and interests among citizens: This
method proposes that if everyone held the same views and interests, factions
would not form. However, this is considered impractical, as human nature and
individual differences make such uniformity impossible. - Think about the word faculties. What does it mean? In the context of Federalist #10,
“faculties” refers to the various capabilities or attributes of individuals, particularly in
relation to their abilities to reason, acquire property, and pursue personal interests. The
diversity of these faculties leads to different opinions interests, and ultimately to the
formation of factions based on differing perspectives on property and wealth. - What is the difference between pure democracy and a republic? The main differences
Between a pure democracy and a republic are:
Delegation of government: In a republic, government authority is delegated to a
small number of elected representatives who are accountable to the citizens. In
contrast, a pure democracy involves all citizens directly participating in decisions–
making and governance.
Scope of representation: A republic can encompass a larger number of citizens
and a greater geographical area than a pure democracy. This larger scope allows
for a more refined approach to governance, as representatives can filter and
analyze public views and interests before making decisions.
These concepts are fundamental to understanding the arguments presented in Federalist #10
regarding the nature of factions, the challenges of democracy, and the advantages of a republic in
controlling the effects of factions.
