James Madison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

pack Madison - Essay ExampleIt is hoped that this will bring to light the relevance of Madisons politics to an brain of the States today.James Madison (1751-1836) served as the 4th President of America and is considered as the Father of the American Constitution. Like his close friend Thomas Jefferson, James Madison came from a prosperous family of Virginia planters, received an excellent education, and quickly found himself drawn into the debates over independence. Madison emerged as a respected leader of the congress, cognise for his hard work and careful preparation.2Dahls analysis of Madisons political views centered on the latters propositions relative to the Democrat-Republic that he and his colleagues (Alexander Hamilton and other supporters of the Constitution) advocate. These propositions are as follows (1) the greatest threat in the American republic comes from a minority, not the majority (2) to protect their rights from minority factions, members of the majority factio n must organize their own political party (3) the peril that majorities might threaten property rights could be overcome by enabling a majority of citizens to own property, a feasible solution in America and (4) in a republic, majorities must be allowed to prevail. Dahl asserts that Madisons political views have somewhat developed from a non-democratic view to a more democratic genius as his generate in politics broaden as demonstrated in his instigation of the Bill of Rights (10 amendments to the Constitution) in 1814. Nonetheless, Dahl contends that these propositions are still mismatched with the political system that he upholds. He mentioned three inconsistencies, namely (1) as an empirical proposition, his conjecture that increased size reduces the danger of factionalism is contradicted by subsequent experience (2) in his conception of basic rights, Madison excluded more than half the adult population women, African Americans, and American Indians and (3) he actively support ed the provision in the Constitution that gave to slave states an increase in representatives amounting to three-fifths of the slave population.3According to Dahl, four questions served as Madisons guide in establishing his ideas 1) What is the new system of government to be called 2) Does a common good exist and, if so, can we know what it is 3) What are the major threats to achieving the common good 4) Can these threats be overcome and, if so, how4Constitutions or political regimes whence were classified based on the number of person/s to whom authority is given. It could be any of these the rule of the one, of the few, or of the many. Each may be considered all good or bad form, depending on whether the rulers sought to achieve the common good or merely their own interests. Political regimes ruled by one are considered a monarchy and its undesirable form, despotism. Rule by the few would be aristocracy or oligarchy. How should one call the rule by the many Should the good form be called a democracy or a republic What about the bad form Dahl points out that these two terms were not yet clearly defined then and claims that Madisons famous distinction between theterms democracy and republic was somewhat arbitrary and ahistorical quoting Madisons