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Tara RossOn this day in 1787, an author writing under the pseudonym ?Brutus? writes his fourth contribution to the anti-Federalist Papers. ?There can be no free government,? Brutus begins, ?where the people are not possessed of the power of making the laws by which they are governed . . . .? He thinks that ?legislation by representatives? is the ?only practicable mode in which the people of any country can exercise this right.? He adds a big ?but?! ?t is a matter of the highest importance,? he writes, ?that [representation] be so constituted as to be capable of understanding the true interests of the society for which it acts . . . .?

In other words, if our laws are to be made by representatives, then let?s be very certain that those representatives are working for *us*, not themselves.

Brutus argues that the number of representatives in Congress will be too small. After all, human nature basically guarantees that ?artful and designing? individuals will make their way into the legislature. The best defense against these people is a ?strong and numerous representation.?

These problems are compounded by the fact that Congress has been given some power over its own elections.

More on Brutus IV here: https://www.taraross.com/post/the-anti-federalist-papers-brutus-iv?fbclid=IwAR2HOx7KBmrT8J-SrtTiP3R9izas_aGREdFuJgFOVho5H1J5CGL06b6bf-k