Description
Book SynopsisThese essays on the Constitution were written by busy men in the midst of an active public and professional life, written with immense haste, and without proper time for consultation.... Yet even when they first appeared, the Federalist papers were recognized as the best explanation of and defense of the Constitution available, and they took their place, almost at once, as a classic. Jefferson-no Federalist himself-pronounced the volume, when it appeared, the best commentary on the principles of government which has ever been written.-From the Introduction by Editor, Henry S. Commager. Includes bibliography.
Table of ContentsEditor’s Introduction vii
1. Introduction I
2. The Value of Union 4
9. The Union a Safeguard against Domestic Disturbances 7
10. The Union a Check on Faction 9
11. Commercial Advantages of Union 16
14. Objections to the Union on the Score of Extent of Territory 18
15. Defects of the Present Confederation Arising from Dependence on State Governments 21
21. Fundamental Defects of the Present Confederation 25
22. Specific Defects of the Present Confederation 30
23. Necessity of an Energetic Government 38
26. Grounds for Restraining Legislative Authority over Armies 42
27. Impossibility of a National Government without a National Force 43
31. Necessity for Unlimited Power of Taxation 47
32. Exclusive and Concurrent Taxing Powers in a Federal System 50
33. Taxation Considered with Respect to General Powers 52
34. Taxation with Respect to Military Necessity 56
35. Taxation in Relation to Class Interests 58
37. Difficulties of the Convention in Framing a Constitution 61
39. Conformity of the Constitution to Republican Principles 66
41. General View of Powers Conferred by the Constitution 71
44. Restrictions on the Powers of the States 75
45. The Alleged Danger of National Power to the States 82
51. The System of Checks and Balances in the Government 85
64. The Treaty Making Powers of the Senate 89
69. Comparison of the Powers of the President with those of Other Executives 93
71. The Term of Office of the President 97
72. Reëligibility of the President 100
73. The Veto Power of the President 105
75. The Treaty Making Power of the President 109
78. The Judiciary Department and Judicial Review 113
80. The Extent of Judicial Powers 120
81. The Distribution of Judicial Authority 126
82. The Relation of Federal and State Courts 131
84. The Propriety of a Bill of Rights 134
85. Summary and Conclusion 139
Bibliography 145
