James Madison, a former Delegate to the Constitutional Convention from the Commonwealth of Virginia, using the pseudonym “Publius,” publishes “Federalist #55.” In paragraph three he argues for an ever-increasing membership in the House of Representatives to keep the influence of special interests to a minimum:
The charges exhibited against it are, first, that so small a number of representatives will be an unsafe depositary of the public interests; secondly, that they will not possess a proper knowledge of the local circumstances of their numerous constituents; thirdly, that they will be taken from that class of citizens which will sympathize least with the feelings of the mass of the people, and be most likely to aim at a permanent elevation of the few on the depression of the many; fourthly, that defective as the number will be in the first instance, it will be more and more disproportionate, by the increase of the people, and the obstacles which will prevent a correspondent increase of the representatives.
[added 7/25/2026]
Subsequent Events:
Authority:
Articles of Confederation, Article XIII
ccc-2point0.com/Articles-of-Confederation
References:
James Madison, “The Total Number of the House of Representatives,” from The Debate on the Constitution, two volumes, Bernard Bailyn, ed., (New York: Library of America, 1992), 2:202-07.
Federalist Nos. 51-60 – Federalist Papers: Primary Documents in American History – Research Guides at Library of Congress
guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-51-60#s-lg-box-wrapper-25493431
Current U.s. National Debt:
