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Difficulty: Very hardFederalist No. 10 vs. Brutus No. 1

Read the passage and answer the following question.

"In so extensive a republic, the great officers of government would soon become above the control of the people, and abuse their power to the purpose of aggrandizing themselves, and oppressing their constituents. The trust committed to them would be large, and the power to abuse it great... They will use the power, when they acquire it, to the purposes of gratifying their own interest and ambition, and it will be next to impossible for those who elect them to inspect their conduct, or to control them."
—Brutus No. 1

Which of the following arguments from Federalist No. 10 directly counters the concern expressed in the passage regarding the relationship between representatives and the public in an expanded republic?

  1. A large electorate makes it more difficult for unworthy candidates to successfully practice the vicious arts of electioneering, increasing the likelihood that representatives will possess established merit and virtue.Answer
  2. B
    A federal system dividing power between national and state levels ensures that local representatives remain closer to the daily inspection of their constituents.
  3. C
    The separation of powers and a bicameral legislature create internal checks that prevent any single representative or branch from aggrandizing power.
  4. D
    Establishing a direct democracy allows citizens to vote directly on legislation, eliminating the need to inspect or control intermediate representatives.

Answer

A large electorate makes it more difficult for unworthy candidates to successfully practice the vicious arts of electioneering, increasing the likelihood that representatives will possess established merit and virtue.
In Federalist No. 10, Madison argues that a large republic offers a larger pool of potential representatives and requires a larger voting base for each seat. This structural characteristic makes it much more difficult for deceptive candidates to successfully win elections using the 'vicious arts' of electioneering. Consequently, the chosen representatives are more likely to be individuals of high integrity and capability, resolving the worry in Brutus No. 1 that representatives in a large republic would inevitably become corrupt and uncontrollable.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided stimulus from Brutus No. 1 to identify the core concern.
The author of Brutus No. 1 fears that in a large republic, representatives will be too distant from their constituents, making it impossible for the public to monitor them. This lack of oversight will lead representatives to abuse their power and prioritize their own ambition over the public interest.
Understanding the precise grievance in the stimulus is necessary to find the corresponding counterargument.
2
Evaluate how Federalist No. 10 addresses the selection of representatives in a large republic versus a small one.
In Federalist No. 10, Madison asserts that a larger republic will contain a higher proportion of fit characters to choose from, and because each representative is chosen by a larger number of citizens, it will be harder for unfit candidates to win through deceit or corruption.
This directly targets the Brutus concern about corrupt, self-serving representatives who cannot be controlled or properly selected by the electorate.
3
Compare the options to identify which one accurately reflects Madison's argument in Federalist No. 10 and addresses the concern.
The statement about a large electorate making it harder for unworthy candidates to practice electioneering is a direct paraphrase of Madison's argument in Federalist No. 10.
Other options either confuse the document (e.g., referencing Federalist No. 51 or federalism) or misrepresent Madison's view on direct democracy.

Key Concept

Federalist No. 10 vs. Brutus No. 1
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Topics

Federalist No. 10 vs. Brutus No. 1

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