Federalist 53
Federalist 53 1
James Madison
Publius often returns to the problem posed by majority tyranny. Here he expresses his preference for biennial over annual elections.
February 9, 1788
The Same Subject Continued: The House of Representatives
I shall here, perhaps, be reminded of a current observation "that where annual elections end, tyranny begins." If it be true, as has often been remarked, that sayings which become proverbial are generally founded in reason, it is not less true that when once established they are often applied to cases to which the reason of them does not extend. I need not look for a proof beyond the case before us. What is the reason on which this proverbial observation is founded? No man will subject himself ...