DID JEFFERSON OR MADISON UNDERSTAND CONDORCET'S THEORY OF SOCIAL CHOICE

In: Public choice, Band 73, Heft 4, S. 445-458

Abstract

THIS PAPER WAS DESIGNED TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT, THROUGH A KNOWLEDGE OF SOCIAL CHOICE, JEFFERSON AND/OR MADISON WAS IN A POSITION TO INDUCE EQUILIBRIA IN THE INSTITUTIONS THEY DESIGNED (THE PARLIAMENTARY RULES OF CONGRESS, AND THE STRUCTURE OF CHECKS AND BALANCES RESPECTIVELY). THE AUTHORS EXAMINED ALL THE KNOWN PRIMARY DOCUMENTS WHICH APPEAR TO BEAR ON THE QUESTION, AND NONE OF THEM SHOWS ANY HINT THAT EITHER JEFFERSON OR MADISON UNDERSTOOD THE SOICAL CHOICE COMPONENTS OF CONDORCET'S WORK. THEY FIND THAT THE HYPOTHESIS FAILS. THE CONSTITUTION, THE "FEDERALIST PAPERS" AND JEFFERSON'S "MANUAL" ARE ALL MASTERPIECES BUT THEY ARE NOT MASTERPIECES OF HERESTHETICS.