Political Science 1101 Writing Assignment I: The Large vs. Small Republic Debate

Political Science 1101
Writing Assignment I: The Large vs. Small Republic Debate

Directions: Write a well-organized 4-6 page guided essay on the topic of the Large vs. Small Republic debate. The relevant readings for this theme are: Brutus 1, which can be found in the Credit Essay Section on Blackboard under the heading, “Large vs. Small Republic Debate.” The Federalist Papers can be found in your text Federalist No. 10, (A 20-24), Federalist No. 51, (A25-27). Students have found reading “A Brief Guide for Reading the Federalist Papers” (A 19-20) very helpful for understanding the core themes of the these essays and answering their essay questions for answering questions on their midterm exam. Students have also found that reading the sections on the “Ratification Debates” (pp. 31-32). This section was formerly called the “Constitution and Democracy” in the 14e and previous editions; “Key Principles,” (p.32); “Government and Human Nature”, (pp. 32-3 5); “The Constitution and Liberty,” (p.35); “The Anti-Federalist (and Federalist) View,” p. 35-37, very helpful for formulating their answers to the specific essay questions. In other words read carefully whether you are doing the extra credit work or not the sections appearing on pages 31-37. The copies of Brutus 1, Federalist 10 and 51 posted in the assignments section have passages that are marked in yellow. These yellowed passages contain themes and arguments relevant to helping you locate ideas and arguments to put in your essays. Sections on key Anti-Federalist and Federalist perspectives are in your power point lecture. Make sure to make ample use of these notes for your essay and preparation for your midterm exam. I will post these sections in the Documents section on Blackboard to make it easier for you to locate the opposing perspectives. The essay questions are presented in simple question format to make it easier for you to answer each essay question in a couple of sentences and not get side-tracked and confused by very broad and unfocused questions.

Your essay is due on the date of the midterm. Late papers will not be accepted. The paper is worth up to 12 points toward your midterm grade, which can significantly improve your overall semester grade.

To get credit, you must submit your essay to turnitin.com. Before you can submit your paper you are required to set up a profile of yourself on the website. If you have already done so, you should be fine. To upload your paper, click the “American Government Spring 2016” icon. Your enrollment password is Brutus, with an upper case B. Your class id is 13040277. The title of the assignment inbox to submit your paper is, “The Small v. Large Republic Debate.”

You must submit a copy to of you essay to Turnitin.com and also hand deliver a copy to me on the date of the midterm. You cannot get a grade without submitting your paper to turnitin.com and also to me by the due date, two weeks after the first midterm. Please retain a copy of your essay for yourself either on disk or a photocopy of the essay. Your paper must include citations of all books, magazine articles or essays you use to answer the essay question. When you cite reference material be sure to indicate the page numbers of the particular work that you are taking your ideas from. One point will be deducted from your grade for non-cited references.

Plagiarizing is impermissible. Cheating on a test or plagiarizing a written assignment will result in an F for the grade. For additional information see
Baruch’s policy is presented below:

http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html

Essay Questions

The Anti-Federalists had a variety of objections to the Constitution, but in general they were united by their belief that liberty could be secured only in a small republic with limited enumerated powers in which the rulers were physically close to – and closely checked by – the ruled. Federalists, the supporters of the new Constitution, unlike Anti-federalists, believed that liberty could best be protected, and the common welfare best promoted, in a large republic. Brutus I (Robert Yates, a leading Anti-Federalist from New York) and Federalist 10 (James Madison) are considered among the best examples of Anti-Federalist and Federalist perspectives on the Constitution.

Questions related to Brutus 1

Brutus was a strong supporter of state’s rights and held the view that the Articles of Confederation, at best, needed only modest or limited changes to equip the Articles with requisite powers to govern the nation effectively. What three or four clauses in the Constitution did Brutus believe were threats to state sovereignty? Why did he believe these clauses contained powers that would undermine state rights and greatly enhance the powers of the national government and lead to a “consolidated (or unitary system of) government”?

Brutus strongly believed that homogeneity of society, community spirit, citizen virtue, citizen knowledge of and confidence in their rulers, their representatives’ knowledge and understanding of the concerns of their constituents, and an alert and engaged citizenry that is aware of what is going on in the national legislature and that can be easily mobilized to oust corrupt and tyrannical rulers are essential to government by consent of the governed, representative democracy, social harmony, and the public welfare. Why did Brutus believe these ideals are better obtained by a small republic than a large republic? How does Brutus use authority to back up his arguments? Why does he believe large republics are more prone to civil strife and abuse of power than small republics?

Questions Related to Federalist 10

Madison argues that government needs to be designed to prevent both the politicians and the people from using the instruments of power for ill-conceived purposes? In Federalist 10 Madison uses the fear of faction by most Americans during founding period as a central organizing theme in his essay and as a means to undermine Brutus’s argument in favor of large republics.

What is a faction according to Madison and why does he view them as “diseases” to popular forms of government? According to Madison what are the causes of faction, and how factions related to his view of human nature? Why does Madison believe the causes of faction cannot be eliminated, but that the only relief can be found in controlling their effects?

Why does Madison think the problem of a “minority” faction is easy to handle in republican forms of government? Conversely, why is he so troubled by potential of majority factions? What are only the two means (see second paragraph in page A22 in your text) Madison believes that the political effectiveness of factions can be undermined? ?

From this point on Madison is building his case against Brutus’ defense of small republics. Why does Madison reject citizen virtue and homogeneity as “cures” for controlling the effects of faction? Why does Madison believe that pure democracies are wholly inadequate in addressing the problem of faction? What are the two key features of republics that make republican forms of government better equipped than democracies for curing the mischiefs of faction? In other words what are the two key features in republics than enable them to address the problem of faction that pure democracies lack?

Madison uses the remaining pages in Federalist 10 to attack Brutus’s defense of small republics to demonstrate the superiority of large republics over small republics in controlling the effects of faction.

Why does Madison believe that large republics are more likely to produce more competent and virtuous rulers than small republics? How does the large republic provide solutions to the problem of factions than small republics? What role does the representative play in Madison’s solution to the problem of factions? How does the size and diversity of large republic provide solutions to the problem of factions than small republics? Building political coalitions are essential to winning elections and to obtaining majorities in the legislature to enact laws. Why does Madison believe that political coalitions in elections and legislative politics will be more moderate in large republics than in moderate in small republics? What role does size of the republic, diversity and the representative play in producing a more moderate (less extreme) politics in large republics? Why is Federalist 10 referred to as the defense of large republics.

Madison argues that “men are not angels.” As a result government needs to be designed to prevent politicians and the people from using the instruments of power for ill-conceived purposes. How is this point used to undermine Brutus’s notion of the superiority of small republics over large ones? What is a faction according to Madison? What are the causes of faction and how are factions related to Madison’s view of human nature?
Why does Madison think the problem of a “minority” faction is easy to handle? Conversely, why is he so troubled by potential of majority factions? Why does Madison believe that large republics are more likely to produce more competent and virtuous rulers than small republics? How does the large republic provide solutions to the problem of factions that small republics and pure democracies do not? Why does Madison believe that pure democracies are the worst forms government for protecting the rights of individuals and political minorities against despotic political majorities?
Questions related to Federalist no. 51. Madison argues that the very self-interest that leads people toward factionalism and tyranny might, if properly harnessed by appropriate constitutional arrangements (Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances), become a source of unity and a guarantee of liberty.
Federalist 51

Madison argues in Federalist 51 that the concentration of all powers into a single branch of government as the definition of tyranny. He argues that the very self-interest that leads people toward factionalism and tyranny (that men are not angels) might, if properly harnessed by appropriate constitutional arrangements (Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances), could be a source of unity and a guarantee of liberty

How does Madison use Federalist 51 to develop his ideas on the importance of the Separation of Powers and the Checks and Balances to protect liberty, promote good government, and to prevent the concentration of powers into a single branch? In other words why does he stress the importance of “giving those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means, and personal motives resist the encroachments of the others?” How is Madison’s conception of human nature to advance this argument?

What are the two key features that Madison argues are essential to keeping the legislative, Judicial and Executive branches separate from one another? How does Madison use the Judiciary to make this point?

Madison also argues that it is important to enhance the powers of the weaker branch and weaken the powers of the more powerful (and therefore potentially the most dangerous branch) to achieve an effective separation of powers and checks and balances.
How does Madison use his discussion of the Congress and the presidency to make these points?

Finally, Madison argues that it is not only important to protect the people against the oppression of their rulers, but to protect the weaker segment of society (a political minority) from tyranny of the majority. Why does Madison believe that a compound (federal) republic is better suited than a simple (unitary) republic for guarding the people from the oppression of their rulers? Why does he believe that a large republic is better suited than a small republic for protecting the rights of political, economic and religious minorities against the evil schemes of factious majorities?