Publius: Defending The Senate

276 Words1 Page

Publius defends the Senate in Federalist 62 and 63. Publius argues that the Senate is extremely useful in blocking legislation that is undesirable, but would be passed by a unicameral legislature. The general populace have passions and prejudices that would greatly affect legislation. The House of Representatives, representing the people directly, may also feel these passions and prejudices. Therefore, Publius argues, the Senate is a defense against these passions and prejudices. He also defends the Senate in that he believes that the House of Representatives may not always be trusted. The Senate acts as a check on government, particularly to a government that forgets they were elected by their constituents, and therefore have an obligation to them. …show more content…

Instead of a bill being pushed through one singular body, it must pass two distinct bodies before potentially becoming law. The two bodies also provide a layer of security in regards to corruption. If one house is held by many corrupt members, it is extremely unlikely for the other one to also be as corrupt. Publius states that the crucial role of the Senate under the Constitution is to secure that any law passed is represented by a majority of the people and the states. The House of Representatives represents the people, while the Senate represents the states. The Senate prevents larger states from always killing legislation introduced by smaller states, and gives each state equal say. This is the crucial role of the Senate; to act as a check on the House of Representatives and give representation to the

Show More
Related

  • Lucius Cornelius Sulla And The Republic

    1672 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, born in 138B.C. to a minor branch of the Cornelian gens, has been heralded as a fortuitous and cunning man, a formidable commander, and yet an unfit politician with perplexing motives. Sulla’s early campaigning allowed him to rise to great military distinction, and earned him the later invaluable respect of his fellow soldiers. Nevertheless, his career illustrated the demoralisation of the Republic and contributed to its ultimate degeneration. The reformative measures he took in his last years of power - which were intended to preserve the Republican institution, were homicidal and ephemeral; they were altogether ineffectual compared to the example of Sulla’s own career. Sulla chose for his own epitaph, ‘no one ever did more good to his friends, nor more harm to his enemies’ (Southern Utah University, p.6). No words speak so succinctly of his political ideology as these.

    Read More

  • Tyranny Dbq Essay

    705 Words  | 2 Pages

    Senate... senate shall be composed of two senators from each state”, Stated document D. This clearly explains that Representation in Congress should be based on population in the House of Representatives and equality in the Senate by sending two senators from each state no matter the size of the state.*The Great Compromise guard against tyranny by Hensing a double security by having two systems within the

    Read More

  • John Dewitt And Brrutus Arguments On The Nature Of The Central Government

    1196 Words  | 3 Pages

    He urges to “investigate the nature, and the extent of the powers intended to be granted by this constitution to the rulers” (Anti-feds. 294). Brutus claims that there are “no bounds” set and that in and of itself is concerning. In response, Publius rebuts that the problem is not limiting the power of government, but limiting the range which the power of government extends. Publius states that we should “discriminate the objects” while still allowing each department the most “ample authority” to commit its charge (Feds. 151). In other words, power should be unlimited to limited ends. These unrestrained powers of the government are “necessary means of attaining a necessary end” (Feds. 251). On the other hand, Brutus questions “what are the ideas included in the terms” and “are these terms definite?” (Anti-feds. 299). Brutus poses questions that probe at what the limited ends that Publius mentions are supposed to

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis of Cicero's Defense of Marcus Caelius Rufus

    1742 Words  | 4 Pages

    Cicero believed that a good orator must do three things in his speech: earn the favor of the audience, provide persuasive arguments, and move the audience with emotional appeals. In his defense of Marcus Caelius Rufus one finds an excellent example of Cicero’s work and through close examination can glean some additional information about what Cicero felt was needed in a good speech. With such scrutiny it becomes readily apparent that each of the three objectives need not be attained equally. Because while Cicero does attempt to gain the favor of his audience, provide persuasive arguments, and presents the audience with powerful emotional appeals, he spends a vast amount of time providing the jury with “proofs” (persuasive arguments), a fair amount of time earning the good will of the audience, and only briefly extends emotional appeals towards the close of his speech. Cicero did this for a reason; he did this because it best fit the case being made against his client, the circumstances of the trial and seemed most likely to get him the acquittal he desired. If one peruses Cicero’s monologue, they can figure out why.

    Read More

  • The Structure Of Congress And Affects It Has On Its Policy Making Role

    969 Words  | 2 Pages

    Contrasts in the lawmaking methodology utilized as a part of the House and Senate reflect the distinctive size of the two chambers and individual terms of its parts. In the House, the dominant part gathering is inflexibly in control, stacking advisory groups with lion 's share party parts, and utilizing principles to seek after enactment supported by its parts. In the Senate, singular parts are better ready to hold up the procedure, which prompts lower similarity costs, however higher exchange costs. The complication of the lawmaking procedure gives rivals different chances to murder a bill, making a solid predisposition for the present state of affairs.

    Read More

  • Congress and The Presidency

    370 Words  | 1 Pages

    Congress and The Presidency Congress as a whole makes laws. When Bills are addressed they must meet the approval of both the House and the Senate in order to become a Law, and then the President can always veto it. Congress also deals with matters of public concern be it something that needs to be investigated or something that needs to be put before the public to raise awareness. Congress is made up of two parts: The Senate and the House of Representatives. Each is granted different powers and responsibilities.

    Read More

  • Publius and Thomas Paine´s Ideas on Government

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    Publius believes that one’s government is a reflection on human nature (Federalist 51). Also he mentions that “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” (Federalist 51). Publius says this in order to make the analogy that we are no angels, therefore we cannot govern ourselves. This is a good example in showing that human nature and human beings have flaws, so something will more than likely go wrong no matter the circumstances. Publius talks about in Federalist 51 that since men are not angels we live in a society where men govern men and when doing that we have to control their power, as to what they can and cannot decide on such as making laws, distributing laws, and deciding who and how said laws are being forced upon. If you do not control the power of the government they will eventually combine all their powers to form a tyranny. Publius believes that in order to encroach this ...

    Read More

  • Marcus Brutus: An Honorable Man

    558 Words  | 2 Pages

    Brutus, Honorable Man Brutus, an honorable conspirator? Honorable is defined as genuine, truthful and displaying integrity, while a conspirator is defined as one that engages in an agreement to commit an illegal or wrongful act. Anyone can clearly see that these two words do not belong together. There are also other reasons why Brutus should not be considered honorable. In the play, three distinct acts can be recalled.

    Read More

  • Gaius Marius And The Breakdown Of The Republic

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    Marius paved the road that inspired many to follow in his footsteps, as Caesar and Octavian, which led to the breakdown of the Republic. Marius held consulship for a record breaking seven years, completely disregarding the Lex Annalis, and leaving the senate looking slightly powerless in the eyes of its people. Also, Marius used war and corruption on his side in order to hold his political power in Rome, knowing full well he was needed to fend off invasions especially from the north. By abolishing the Servian laws, he also allowed the landless and the poor to join in the army, which created status problems for the Romans, and encouraged others to follow right along with his creation of a professional, private army through the Marian Laws and reforms. Gaius Marius put into affect army reforms that changed the military, political and social aspects of Roman society. These reforms brought about private professional armies, enlarged aristocratic values by increasing wealth, and eventually led to the exploitation of legal and political faults to boost personal power that all together helped to disestablish the republic.

    Read More

  • Congress Have Too Much Power Essay

    609 Words  | 2 Pages

    Congress is split into two large bicameral legislatures, the house of representatives and the senate. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers which shows how they have too much power because even though they are split into two separate entities, they can share and overtake other parts of the government and basically do whatever they want from making laws to declaring war.

    Read More

  • Strong Safeguards Against Tyranny Dbq

    842 Words  | 2 Pages

    This safeguard protects big populations from becoming too powerful over smaller populations and vice versa. They way this is achieved is by having the States represented in the House by their population. (Doc D) The way that this is equaled out is every state gets two representatives in the Senate. (Doc D) Both the House and The Senate have to agree on a law for it to pass so there for the factor of how many representatives a state has is factored out a tyranny is once again prevented from happening. This once again safeguards against tyranny because the power is equaled out among The States now allowing one population to have more say in government than a smaller

    Read More

  • Cicero And Cicero's The Defense Of Injustice

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    As we regained consciousness one by one, we found ourselves on a deserted island. After gathering all the food and supplies we could find, it was decided that certain rules should be enacted so we may live together civilly. We need to maintain our politeness and courtesy as we do not know how long we may be stranded on the island. To preserve what we have left, the first rule that should be enacted must benefit the group as a whole. The rule to have every able bodied individual work to benefit the group. That means that a person must work at gather food, water, build shelter, and any other tasks that are required. This should be the most important rule as it will maintain order and will provide justice in our group.

    Read More

  • How A Bill Becomes A Law

    1168 Words  | 3 Pages

    In our countries government, Congress plays a major role in decision making. They’re primary role is to pass laws. These laws start off as bills. Bills can only be introduced by members of Congress. Although these bills only come from Congressman, there are many people who influence these bills. Such as the president, regular citizens, offices in the executive branch, and many others. The bills right off the bat do not have a very good chance of passage. Only one out of every ten bills even gets any attention at all. This is because they must go through many tests and hearings before they even have a chance of landing on the president’s desk. These steps in a bill becoming a law are very important, and make sure that all bills passed into law are the best of the best.

    Read More

  • The Role of the Senate and House of Representatives

    571 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Role of the Senate and House of Representatives. The Congress of the United States consists of the Senate and the House. of Representatives, which means the USA is bi-cambial. The Congress of the United States was created by Article I, Section 1, of the Constitution, adopted by the Constitutional Convention in September.

    Read More

  • Understanding the Legislative Power of the House of Representatives

    626 Words  | 2 Pages

    If the people had the power to give their representatives the authority to make law, they naturally held the power to take it away. Accordingly, the Framers placed the power of making laws and taxes in the body most accountable to the people; the House of Representatives. It was no accident that the members of the House have the smallest districts and the most frequent elections of all branches of the federal government. The logic behind this was that it would encourage representatives to obey the wishes of the people, and simultaneously the people power to quickly remove any representatives negating their duty. Furthermore, the Constitution provides an additional check on the House, by making its laws dependent upon a separate legislative body: the senate. This provision in the Constitution is designed to mitigate the effects of the sudden and ever-changing passions of the people, by providing a smaller body, less dependent on the people, to serve as the stable voice of

    Read More

More about Publius: Defending The Senate

Open Document