Question
DETERMINING CENTRA IDEAS What did Madison mean by the statement "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition"?
Answer
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Anthea
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Answer
Madison meant that in a political system, the ambition of individuals should be harnessed and balanced against each other to prevent any one person or group from accumulating too much power. This concept is a key element of the checks and balances system in the United States Constitution, where different branches of government have distinct powers and can check the actions of the others. The idea is to use the ambition of individuals to compete and counteract each other, preventing the concentration of power and promoting a more stable and balanced government.