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The Pros And Cons Of A Republican Government

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(Natalie) Government is an integral part of our everyday lives, determining our laws, our liberties, and ultimately the quality of our nation. The Founders of our United States designed a republican government, thinking it would be both effective and representative. However, the diversity and size of the United States created unique challenges that needed to be addressed. It magnified the risk that the people would split into factions and pursue their self interest instead of the common good. The Founders attempted to preserve a republican government by limiting the power of factions; however, their solutions were not successful. (Jackson) According to the Founders, a republican government is a government where the people are given the power …show more content…

Factions could not be prevented, but they could be controlled. James Madison stated in “ The Federalist No. 10”, “as each representative will be chosen by a greater number of citizens in the large than in the small republic… and the suffrages of the people being more free, will be more likely to centre in men who possess the most attractive merit and the most diffusive and established characters”. With a representative from a larger body of people, the individual will represent a greater percentage of the population and have to act with civic virtue. That one representative would be more virtuous and efficient as he or she must be able to satiate everyone’s beliefs. Additionally, the Founders incorporated the very values of a republican government into the culture of the United States. According to the We the People textbook, “People living in the American colonies were taught the value of civic virtue and other values of republican government in many ways… The values of republican government were part of the customs and traditions of the people” (pg. 28). The United States is a country so diverse that, to ensure the longevity of the country, civic virtue must be encouraged. While the Founder’s solutions are good in theory, in practical application they fail. Passing representatives through a large body does not ensure they will act for the common good. Many of the officials and officers in the government only serve their own self-interest rather than the common good. This is especially prevalent in Congress and the House of Representatives. Additionally, adhering to a majority vote does not control the power of factions. Many large and profitable corporations contribute campaign funds to candidates whose platforms match their own. When their candidate reaches office, their policies

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