Federalist Papers Constitution

Federalist Papers Why? Why are these arguments necessary? Who are they intended for? Why are they still important?

Powers the Constitution

Federalist Papers What they are The Federalist Papers The Federalist Papers are a series of essays advocating support and ratification of the Constitution The authors wrote under the pseudonym Pubilus, and at the time, the identity of the authors was actually a secret. All argue different points of contention in the creation of a new government, but the most famous are Federalist 10 and Federalist 51

John Jay wrote some too. He’s not that impressive Federalist Papers Authors The Federalist Papers Alexander Hamilton wrote 51 of them, his most famous being Federalist 78 James Madison wrote 26 of them, his most famous being Federalist 10 and Federalist 51. John Jay wrote some too. He’s not that impressive

Federalist Papers Effect Did they help? Who is the actual audience? Really only printed in NY newspapers NY & VA were most critical to ratification Virginia was 10th state to ratify, NY was 11th NY’s ratification convention had 19 Federalists & 46 Antifederalists. Who is the actual audience?

SCOTUS has used them nearly 300 times in opinions Federalist Papers Effect Uses Authors intended them primarily as “debaters’ guides” for use during the various ratification conventions Today they are used as a reasonable account of the intentions of the framers of the constitution Serve as a statement of political philosophy explaining characteristics of “American democracy” SCOTUS has used them nearly 300 times in opinions

Federalist 10 Constitution

Federalist Papers Federalist 10 #10 Factions are a group of citizens serving their own self interests over the common good. You can’t control the causes of factions, but you can control the effects Factions are dangerous and must be controlled by the government Argues against direct democracy in favor of representative democracy

Federalist Papers Federalist 10 #10 A large republic serves as a check against the most dangerous – “majority factions” Biggest cause of factions is unequal distribution of wealth. The poor will be the biggest faction A large republic will protect the minority “landowners” against the majority faction

Pluralism – the factions will compete with each other. Federalist Papers Federalist 10 #10 Faction can be interpreted in modern situations to mean political parties and interest groups Pluralism – the factions will compete with each other. No faction will be able to dominate the government because other factions will compete

Federalist 51 Constitution

“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition” Federalist Papers Federalist 51 #51 Separation of powers & Checks and balances are enough to protect the rights of the people “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition” Each branch will prevent the others from overstepping, in a selfish effort to keep their own powers System is designed to provide “the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department”

Federalist Papers Federalist 51 #51 Comes back to factions – the way to limit factions is to have many competing factions This is pluralism Society is made of groups looking after their own self interest. They compete with other groups that are doing the same, serving as a check and not letting one group become too powerful

Federalist 78 Constitution

Federalist Papers Federalist 78 #78 Stresses the importance or an INDEPENDENT judiciary (judges serve life terms) Courts rely on other branches to implement their decisions, so they aren’t as dangerous Suggests the idea of judicial review – Says courts have duty to determine whether acts of Congress are uncsonstisutional

Bigly Ideas Constitution

History Wrap Up 10 - Factions 51 – Separation of Powers 78 – Judicial Review Focus on these things: