POLI 100C POLITICAL PARTIES
17 January 2006

  1. Federalist # 10

    1. Madison's Argument for the Constitution

    2. Problems With Madison's Argument

    3. Madison's view of Political Parties

    4. Madison's Key Insights into the Nature of Politics

      1. Madison's view of Parties (factions): They exist and they must be dealt with. They are the price we pay for liberty.

      2. People hold Opinions with Passion -- "the former will be
        the objects to which the latter will attach themselves."

      3. The various and unequal distributions of property (broadly defined) divides the citizenry into classes and these form the bases of politics.

        The Founders (Jefferson, Washington, Monroe, Adams, Madison, etc.) all believed this. To them Liberty meant:

        • Freedom of Speech

        • Freedom of Association

        • Private Property Rights in Land

        • Government Protection of Private Property Rights in General

        • and all the Rights Listed in the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution