Federalist No. 10

Definition

Federalist No. 10 is one of these essays written by James Madison that argues for a large republic as being most effective at controlling factions and preserving public good.

Related terms

Republicanism: A form of government where citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf – this is what Madison was advocating for in No. 10.

Factions: These are groups within larger groups that have interests or agendas that may not align with those of others - think different cliques in a high school.

Majority Rule: This is the principle that decisions are made by a majority of members. Madison argued in No. 10 that in large republics, majority rule would prevent any one faction from gaining too much power.