"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to controul the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to controul itself." — James Madison, Federalist No. 51 (1788)
Which claim is best supported by Madison's reasoning in this passage?
- Acheck_circle
Constitutional design must assume rulers' self-interest and use institutions to check it
- B
Virtuous citizens are sufficient guarantors of liberty without structural restraints
- C
Religious establishment is necessary to cultivate civic virtue in officeholders
- D
Direct democracy on the Athenian model best secures the public interest
Explanation
Madison's premise is that humans are not angels, so institutions must constrain officeholders by pitting ambition against ambition. The other options invert his argument or invoke alternatives (civic virtue alone, religious establishment, direct democracy) that he explicitly rejected.