AP U.S. Government and Politics · Past multiple choice · Question 20, Effective Fall 2014
Madison’s argument
Pick the argument Madison makes in a required founding document.
Lessons this question tests
1 Read the question
The question is College Board's: sample question 20 in AP Government and Politics: United States Course Description. It starts on page 20 of the PDF.
Open Question 20 (PDF, page 20)
2 Pick your answer
3 Check the explanation
Why the answer is A open once you have picked
In Federalist 10, Madison argues that factions cannot be prevented without destroying liberty, so the goal is to control their effects. His answer is a republic: elected representatives filter public passions, and a large republic contains so many competing interests that no single faction can easily become a tyrannical majority. Representation over a large country is how the system limits faction, which is choice A.
Each choice
- A (correct). Madison says a republic, with representatives over a large territory, controls the effects of faction.
- B. This is the Anti-Federalist view, as in Brutus 1. Madison argues the opposite, that a large republic protects liberty better.
- C. Madison wants many factions, not a few large ones. A few big factions make it easier for a majority to oppress a minority.
- D. Madison says a pure democracy cannot cure faction, because a majority can act directly on its passions.
- E. Madison rejects removing the causes of faction. That would mean destroying liberty or forcing everyone to share the same opinions.
Question and answer key: College Board. The title and summary are ours, and so is the explanation.