Question

new england town meeting
date score seats
town meetings allow citizens to discuss and vote on local issues. town meetings originated in new england in the 1600s, and only property - owners could participate in them. today, any registered voter is allowed to take part in a town meeting in new england. critics argue, however, that town meetings are not the purest form of democracy unless a large amount of voters participate in them. they also maintain that town meetings are often dominated by well - informed groups. an early critic of the town meeting was james madison. james madison, alexander hamilton, and john jay wrote the federalist papers between 1787 and 1788. the federalist papers were 85 essays that explained how the new government would function, and who was the best choice for the united states. all of the essays were signed \publius,\ and it is still disputed as to who wrote specific essays. madison or hamilton wrote the federalist no. 55, which discusses the number of people in the house of representatives, reflecting madisons thoughts about representation in a democracy. read the excerpt below from the federalist no. 55 and then answer the questions that follow.
nothing can be more fallacious false than to found our political calculations on arithmetical principles. sixty or seventy men may be more properly trusted with a given degree of power than six or seven. but does not follow that six or seven hundred would be propor - tionably a better depositary. and if we carry on the supposition to six or seven thousand, the whole reasoning ought to be reversed. the truth is, that in all cases a certain number at least seems to be necessary to secure the benefits of free consultation and discussion, and to guard against too easy a combination for improper purposes; on the other hand, the number ought not to be kept within a certain limit, in order to avoid the confusion and intem - perance of a multitude. in all very numerous assemblies, of whatever character composed, passion never fails to wrest the sceptre from reason. had every athenian citizen been a socrates, every athenian assembly would still have been a mob.
source: world book.
ew england town meeting.\ world book encyclopedia. 2002. retrieved july 23, 2002 from the world
wide web: www.worldbook.com

1. why does the author believe that a certain number of representatives is necessary in a democracy?
2. what does the author mean by \had every athenian citizen been a socrates, every athenian assembly would still have been a mob\?
3. do you think the author would support or oppose town meetings? explain.

Explanation:

1. The author believes a certain number of representatives is necessary to avoid confusion and intemperance of a multitude. In large - scale participation, passions can run high and lead to improper actions.
2. This statement implies that even if every Athenian citizen were as wise as Socrates, the large - scale assembly nature would still lead to chaotic and unruly behavior due to the nature of large groups.
3. The reasoning that the author would support town meetings based on the idea that more people can be more properly trusted is not in line with the text. The text emphasizes the problems of large - scale participation and the need for a certain number of representatives to avoid confusion. So the author would likely oppose town meetings as they can lead to the issues described, like the confusion and intemperance of a multitude.

Answer:

1. To avoid the confusion and intemperance of a multitude.
2. Even with wise individuals, large - scale assemblies can still be chaotic due to group dynamics.
3. Oppose. The text emphasizes problems of large - scale participation and the need for a limited number of representatives to avoid confusion, which town meetings with large numbers of participants may not meet.