Is Diversity Required in Congress? Hamilton Thought Not. from a Federalist anon's updated version of Federalist 35: For Good Reasons, the House of Representatives Will Never Include Citizens from Every Class  We often hear the House of Representatives is insufficiently numerous to receive all the different classes of citizens.  Those who would increase its size – or require representatives from every class – believe the interests and feelings of every part of the community should be combined, thereby producing a due sympathy between the representative body and its constituents.  This argument is seductive initially but ultimately specious.  It is well calculated to lay hold of the prejudices of those to whom it is addressed.  If one dissects the argument, it vanishes into nothing but fair sounding words.   To begin with, all that can be reasonably meant by a knowledge of the interests and feelings of the People is an acquaintance with the general genius, habits, and modes of thinking of the citizenry at large, and with the resources of the country.  In any other sense the proposition has no meaning at all, or an absurd one.   Freedom of electoral choice naturally leads to the selection of landholders, merchants, and those of the learned professions to representative assemblies, with too few exceptions to have any influence on the spirit of the government.   The idea that all classes of the People should be represented in the House of Representatives by actual members from each of the classes is altogether visionary.  For one thing, it would never take place in practice, unless the Constitution expressly required it.    Its object also is impracticable, for it is impossible to construct or enforce a plan to require a representative from each of the classes. Merchants Are Natural Representatives of their Own Class, and of the Manufacturing and Mechanical Arts as Well  As for the noble goal of a due sympathy between the represented and the representative, the composition of popular assemblies always tends toward the merchant by the natural choice of those lesser arts.   Mechanics and manufacturers will almost always be inclined to give their votes to merchants rather than persons of their own professions or trades.  Mechanics and manufacturers furnish the materials of mercantile enterprise and industry.  Many are immediately connected with the operations of commerce.  They know the merchant is their natural patron and friend, and will more effectually promote their interests than they would themselves.   And in a deliberative assembly, the talents of the mechanic and manufacturer are little in demand.  The arguments of merchants carry more weight and influence, rendering them more equal in a contest should any spirit unfriendly to their interests infuse itself into the public councils.   Our own experience confirms that both artisans and manufacturers commonly bestow their votes upon merchants and those whom they recommend.  We must therefore consider merchants as the natural representatives of all these classes of the community. The Landed Interests Will Represent All Landholders  The landed interests will be perfectly united from the wealthiest landlord to the poorest tenant, particularly in relation to taxes.  Any tax laid on land affects the proprietor of millions of acres down to the proprietor of one.   Since common interest is the surest bond of sympathy, every landholder desires to keep the taxes on land as low as possible.  Even if we suppose the interests the opulent landholder and the middling farmer are distinct, is there any reason to conclude one would stand a better chance than the other of being elected  to the Congress?    If we look at the legislature of New York, moderate proprietors of land prevail in both its assembly and senate.  Those inspiring the greatest confidence naturally receive the most votes, whether they be individuals of large fortunes, moderate property, or no property at all. Those of the Learned Professions Will Be Elected According to their Skills All that remain are members of the learned professions, who truly form no distinct interest in society.  They will have confidence in and be the choice of each other – and the community – according to their situation and talents.  Requiring Representatives from Every Class Is Unnecessary,  for the Most Likely to Be Elected Will Best Serve the Nation’s Interests The argument in favor of a system or quota to diversify representation of the various classes in Congress assumes in error that merchants, landholders and the learned professions will not understand or attend to the feelings and interests of the community.    Where is the danger that the interests and feelings of the different classes of citizens will not be understood or attended to by these classes of likely representatives, landholders, and the learned professions?  Will not the landholder know and feel whatever will promote or insure the interest of landed property?  The landholder is imbued with a self-interest prone to resist every attempt to prejudice or encumber that species of property.   The merchant, too, will be disposed to understand and cultivate the interests of the mechanic and manufacturing arts, for their commerce is closely allied.   And those representatives drawn from the learned professions will likely prove themselves impartial arbiters of the rivalships among industries, standing ready to promote one or the other as shall appear conducive to the general interests of society. The individual whose situation leads to extensive inquiry and information is more likely to be a competent judge of the nature, extent, and foundation of the momentary humors and dispositions prevailing in particular parts of the society than one whose observation travels not beyond the circle of neighbors and acquaintances.  A candidate for the favor of the People depends upon the votes of fellow-citizens for election to and continuance in office.   Such an individual naturally takes care to become informed of the dispositions and inclinations of the citizens, and allows them their proper degree of influence upon his or her conduct.   This dependence of the representative upon the constituent – plus their mutual obligation to obey the laws to which the representative gives assent – are the only true and strong chords of sympathy between the electors and the elected.