In The Federalist paper number 10, James Madison expressed concern over the possibility that both majority and minority factions would have too much power over government, and he presented ways of minimizing that danger. The United States Constitution established a democratic government but also contained several provisions that limited majority rule. Throughout the next two centuries, the role of majority rule in the United States government and politics continued to change.

The senate, in the Legislative Branch of government is tied the closest to citizens because of the senate seats. Before the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment, the senate seats were chosen by popular vote of the people. The constitution limited majority rule by only having one element of government, The House of Representatives. The House of Representatives had direct control over the votes of the majority. Judges were also given lifetime tenure and senators only had a term that lasted six years. Our government has become more democratic over the years through the Seventeenth Amendment and primary elections. The Seventeenth Amendment provided direct election for senators and primary elections moved the power from the government to the people because the people are the ones who vote. There is no Electoral College vote for electing officials which makes this a more democratic system.