What does James Madison mean in this quote?

"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 control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."---James Madison (1788)

Question

History

Emmett Walters

6 June, 15:07

What does James Madison mean in this quote?

"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 control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."---James Madison (1788)

+3

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Talon Bullock · Answer 1

All that James Madison is trying to say in this quote is that for a truly democratic government to exist, it needs to ensure that the people controlling it are held accountable for their actions.

What does James Madison mean in this quote?"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 control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."---James Madison (1788)

What does James Madison mean in this quote?

"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 control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."---James Madison (1788)