The Federalist Papers: Federalist No. 55 Summary & Analysis

James Madison discusses the size of the House of Representatives and whether it is large enough to properly represent the people. Critics fear that a small legislative body would be susceptible to corruption, easily manipulated by a few powerful individuals, and unable to reflect the diverse interests of the American population. They argued that a larger body would be more democratic and resistant to undue influence. Madison responds by acknowledging that while a larger assembly could provide broader representation, it would also create practical difficulties. A body that is too large could become chaotic, making debate and decision-making inefficient. He points out that history has shown that legislative corruption does not necessarily stem from a small number of representatives but rather from a lack of accountability. Even a very large body could become corrupt if the people were not allowed to properly check its members.

Madison also says that the House of Representatives is designed to grow over time as the population increases. The Constitution provides a mechanism for adjusting representation based on the national census, ensuring that as the country expands, so does the number of representatives. This means that the initial number of members in the House is not a permanent limitation but a starting point that will evolve. He further reassures readers that representatives will be regularly elected by the people, making them directly accountable to their constituents. If corruption does occur, voters have the power to remove untrustworthy officials in the next election.