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Difficulty: EasyFederalist No. 51

To prevent the concentration of power in any single branch, the authors of the Federalist Papers proposed a system where 'ambition must be made to counteract ambition.' Which of the following constitutional principles does this concept directly support?

  1. The establishment of checks and balances between the branches of governmentAnswer
  2. B
    The division of power between the federal government and state governments
  3. C
    The reliance on the moral virtue of political leaders to limit their own power
  4. D
    The expansion of direct democracy to allow citizens to vote on national laws

Answer

The establishment of checks and balances between the branches of government
The correct answer is correct because the quote 'ambition must be made to counteract ambition' refers to Madison's argument that the system of checks and balances is necessary to keep the separated branches in their proper places by giving each branch the constitutional means to resist the others.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the quote in the stem: 'ambition must be made to counteract ambition' from Federalist No. 51.
This phrase describes how the personal motives of officeholders must be aligned with their constitutional powers to resist encroachments by other branches.
Understanding the core quote is necessary to connect it to its constitutional application.
2
Evaluate the choices to find the constitutional principle that mirrors this structural design.
Checks and balances is the principle where different branches hold powers that directly limit or influence the other branches.
Connecting the concept of competing ambitions to checks and balances identifies the correct answer.

Key Concept

Checks and Balances in Federalist No. 51
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Federalist No. 51

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