By a faction, i understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. there are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects.'

- james madison, federalist 10, the federalist papers
in federalist 10, the factions james madison refers to would most likely be
a) slaves.
b) states.
c) private militias.
d) political parties.