Final answer:
According to Federalist 57, the House of Representatives is designed to closely represent the American people's will and act as a check on power to maintain freedom. It ensures members are directly connected to their constituents and protects against the rise of powerful special interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the House of Representatives according to Federalist 57, is to serve as the body in Congress most closely representing the will and freedom of the American people. The authors of the Federalist Papers, particularly James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, discussed how the House would act as a check on power, ensuring a balance in government and safeguarding against tyranny. Members of the House are elected directly by and represent the people of small geographical districts, which allows them to be intimately connected with their constituents and their interests. This design helps maintain a democratic government in which the legislative power is spread among many representatives, preventing the emergence of an unjust or biased majority.
As emphasised by Lee Hamilton, the fundamental task of Congress is not merely to address specific problems on the national agenda but to serve as a stalwart guard against the concentration of power and to uphold the freedoms of the American populace. This is achieved by having an independent legislature comprised of the people's representatives. The Federalist Papers highlight the importance of collective representation and the expectation that House members, as immediate guardians of the public's rights and liberties, would prevent the control of government by any special interests or powerful factions.