James Madison: Federalist 10

Glossary

• agency the means by which something is accomplished; instrumentality
• aggregate total or whole; collective
• cabals conspiratorial groups of plotters or intriguers
• concert to act together as a unit
• Confederacy a league of states
• consonant being in agreement or accord
• democracy a small number of citizens who assemble and administer the government by majority vote
• desideratum something desired or considered essential
• efficacy power or capacity to produce a desired effect
• expedient something contrived or used to meet a need
• faction a group of citizens united by a common passion
• faculties the powers or capacities of the human mind
• fallible capable of making an error
• insuperable insurmountable
• interests groups that each seek their own benefit or advantage
• latent potential but not evident or active
• obviated rendered unnecessary
• opprobrium contempt
• party a group of persons interested in any act, affair, or transaction before a government
• propensity an innate inclination
• republic a government where the citizens choose a small number of delegates to represent them
• specious having misleading allure
• subservient subordinate in capacity or function
• vex to plague or afflict
• vice any immoral or evil habit or practice