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Above all, Madison understood that a large and diverse nation would necessarily have many antagonistic “minority factions”, or special interests in today’s language. He wanted to contain these interests safely within a republican structure. Yes, they should have representation. But they should all compete against one another in the House of Representatives. The resulting laws would then be filtered through the Senate and the two other branches. As George Washington memorably told Thomas Jefferson, this was to “cool” House legislation as a saucer cools hot tea.
The Federalists won the debate, and America’s constitution (though much amended) remains the most durable in existence today. It balances not only minority factions, as well as populism and elitism, but also the federal and state governments. This is why, in the 19th century, Switzerland took an interest in it.
Switzerland after the Napoleonic wars faced a situation quite similar to America’s a generation earlier. Several independent states (cantons) needed to band together in a stable confederation that preserved both unity and diversity, and thus freedom. After a small but traumatic civil war between Protestant and Catholic cantons the Swiss decided in 1848 to import America’s constitution almost wholesale.
But Switzerland already had its own tradition of democracy. Starting in the 14th century, farmers in the Alpine valleys had formed assemblies not unlike those in ancient Athens in which all men made laws. They also sent delegates to co-ordinate policy (building a road, say) with farmers in other valleys. Such agreements had “to be carried back”, ad referendum in Latin, for approval in the assembly.

A. 어휘
diverse 다양한. necessarily 필연적으로. antagonistic 적대하는, 대립적인.
factions 당파, 소수그룹, 도당. republican structure 공화주의 구조.
representation 대표자, 대표단, 의원단. the House of Representatives 미국 下院(하원).
Representatives 국회의원. legislation 법률제정, 입법.
saucer 받침접시. The Federalists 연방주의자. amend 수정하다.
durable 耐久力(내구력)이 있는, 질긴, 영속성이 있는.
confederation 연방, 연합, 동맹. traumatic 外傷(외상)의.
wholesale 도매로, 대규모로. the Alpine 알프스 산맥의.
assemblies 의회, 국회. delegates 대표자. co-ordinate 조정하다, 동등하게 하다.
approval 承認(승인).