Notes

Need to Knows

Brutus no. 1
anti-federalist perspective
- once people give a government power, it's very hard to get that power back
- the elastic (aka. necessary and proper clause) and supremacy clauses give the federal government almost unlimited power
- the few powers given to the states will eventually be taken away
- given the power to tax, a federal government could be tyrannical
- necessary and proper clause (aka elastic clause) allows Congress to pass any law they want
- states will limit federal power, so the federal government will want to abolish state rights
- a republic would be comprised of people with similar beliefs and backgrounds

Federalist no. 10
federalist perspective -- written by James Madison
- what form of government can best limit factions
- it's natural for people to form factions, so we just need to control the negative aspects
- the majority must be prevented from oppressing minority rights
- direct democracy can't control factions, therefore majorities will oppress minorities
- the larger a republic becomes, the more difficult it is for a majority to oppress a minority
- therefore a large republic is the best way to control factions and prevent majorities from oppressing minorities