Question

Madison believed that a republic would be better than a pure democracy for a large and populous nation. In at least 100 words, describe how Madison defined pure democracy. Then provide one or two examples of situations in which a pure democracy could be the best type of government.

Answer 1

100 words is a lot, but you should know; in a pure democracy people vote on everything from fixing a road in California, to oil drills in Alaska. In a republic the public vote for a group who will vote on it on the public's behlaf among the other elected "representatives" so people in flordia don't have to vote for something happening in Michigan.

Answer 2

In a pure democracy, there is a popular vote for every issue that needs to be discussed. This is opposed to a republican system, in which people only vote directly when they chose their leaders (there are some exceptions, such as a referendum). Madison believed that pure democracy would be inefficient in a large republic. Pure democracy works only in small settings, such as a company meeting or a very small village. Moreover, he believed that having representatives would provide a "buffer" for factionalism. Factions occur when people separate into groups for a particular purpose and vote for their benefit as opposed to the public good. Having representatives can provide a buffer for people's selfishness and self-interest.