What is Madison’s primary argument in this passage? No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time; yet what are many of the most important acts of legislation, but so many judicial determinations, not indeed concerning the rights of single persons, but concerning the rights of large bodies of citizens? . . . . Justice ought to hold the balance between them. Yet the parties are, and must be, themselves the judges; and the most numerous party, or, in other words, the most powerful faction must be expected to prevail.

A. Political parties can be trusted to work for the greater good.
B. Political parties are not factional and do not represent factions.
C. Parties are balancing agents that work to undo local self-interest in a federal context.
D. The strongest or most populous faction will win and proceed to make decisions in their own favor.