...underlying principle of Madisonian democracy, that "the aim of every political constitution is ... to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to...discern and most virtue to pursue, the common good of society . . . and ... to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous while they continue...

...certain portion of order and stability.19 Madison clearly stated the purpose of political representation: The aim of every political constitution is, or ought...virtuous, whilst they continue to hold their public trust. The elective mode of obtaining rulers is the characteristic policy of republican government. The means...

...higher intellectual and moral standards for public servants in our country than for the general public: The aim of every political Constitution is or ought...place, to take the most effectual precautions for keepmg them virtuous, whilst they continue to hold their public trust.5 What Madison's words mean for...

...representatives and who will be least inclined to abuse their powers. Or, as James Madison put it: "The aim of every political constitution is, or ought...discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst...

...rulers men who possess most wisdom to 106 discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of socieu: and in the next place, to take the most effectual...virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust, iFederalist Papers, 1991: No, 57, 3181 Madison does not abandon the notion of citizen virtue, His notion...

...on the exercise of civic virtue by the citizenry in generaL and more on that of the political elite: [T]he aim of every political constitution is. or ought...to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to 106 discern. and most virtue to pursue. the common good of society: and in the next place. to take...

...form." And several paragraphs later he argues that the first object of every political constitution is "to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom...virtue to pursue, the common good of the society." Finally, he concedes that the final check on the abuse of government is "above all, the vigilant and...

...Sichtweise geht zurück auf Platon und findet sich in einem prägnanten Statement der Föderalist Papers: „The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possesses most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society; and in...

...Federalist No. 57: "The aim of every political Constitution is or ought to be first to obtain for rules men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst...

...happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea."56 He also wrote in Federalist No. 57: "The aim of every political Constitution is or ought to be first to obtain for rules men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of society;...