Federalist Papers

Question 1

Federalist #52 - Madison

Qualifications for House of Representatives

Answer 1

House of Representatives: Any one can serve in office based on merit which allows for equal representation.

Question 2

Federalist #53 - Madison

Terms for House of Representatives

Answer 2

House of Representatives: Reasoning for the frequency of election every two years rather than every year.

Question 3

Federalist #62 - Madison

Qualifications & Appointment Senators

Answer 3

• Qualifications of senators
• The appointment of Senators by the State legislatures
• The equality of representation in the Senate.
• The number of senators

Question 4

Federalist #64 - John Jay

Senate Approving Treaties

Answer 4

Power of the Senate as opposed to that of the house in approving treaties. Executive privileged protects confidential information while in negotiations before going to the Senate for advise and confirmation.

Question 5

Federalist #68 - Hamilton

Electoral College

Answer 5

Mode of Electing the President: the Electoral College-protects against the passion and instability of popular elections.

Question 6

Federalist #69 - Hamilton

Executive vs. King

Answer 6

Real Character of the Executive, as compared to the king of England. Not a king and weaker in some ways than the Governors of the several States.

Question 7

Federalist #70 - Hamilton

Executive: One vs. Two

Answer 7

Executive Branch: Better to have one executive rather than two disputing leaders. Two leaders tends to conceal faults, and destroy responsibility. A strong and energetic executive branch requires unity, duration in office, adequate resources, and sufficient powers.

Question 8

Federalist #71 - Hamilton

Executive - 4 Year Term

Answer 8

Executive Branch: Duration in Office to be 4 years as to allow the President sufficient time to perform his duties without being disturbed by continual elections.

Question 9

Federalist #73 - Hamilton

Executive Salary & Veto

Answer 9

Provisions for the protecting the salary of the Executive from Congress, and the Veto Power discussed.

Question 10

Federalist #76 & #77 - Hamilton

Executive: Appointing Power w/ Senate

Answer 10

Executive Branch: The Appointing Power in conjunction with that of the Senate.

Question 11

Federalist #39 - Madison

Federalism: Hybrid of Government

Answer 11

Federalism: “Neither National nor Federal Constitution, but a composition of both.”

The power to govern must be derived from the consent of the people. Representatives elected from the people are the administrators of the government.

The terms of service of the Representatives must be limited by time, good behavior, or as long as the favor of the people is maintained (as would be the case in impeachment).

Question 12

Federalist #45 - Madison

Federalism: Government Limited & Defined

Answer 12

Federalism: Intends that the powers of the General Government be limited and defined, but the powers not explicitly enumerated are to be reserved to the States and the people, being broad and extensive as to afford the greatest degree of liberty closest to home. During times of war, the powers of the general government could expand as to protect the nation as a whole.

Question 13

Federalist #74 - Hamilton

Executive: War Powers & Pardons

Answer 13

Executive Branch: Presidential war powers. He shall be Commander in chief of the army, navy, and the militia of the several States when called into actual service. Need for one single supreme leader when at war. Also discusses the granting of pardons.

Question 14

Federalist #78 - Hamilton

Judicial: Least Dangerous

Answer 14

Judicial Branch: It is the least dangerous, it is the lesser threat of the three because it had “no influence over either the sword or the purse.”

Question 15

Federalist #51 - Madison

Executive: Checks & Balances

Answer 15

Executive Branch: Need for structure of independent branches given limits and checks and balances due to the imperfection of all men. Constitution is meant to govern those that govern. The people are the greatest control on government but other controls are necessary.

Question 16

Federalist #25 - Hamilton

Union’s Common Defense

Answer 16

Argues against the States providing for national forces, and discusses why the Union is better as proposed. States that this would undermine the purpose of creating a Union, because it would rely on the individual members to support the Union’s common defense.

Question 17

Federalist #75 - Hamilton

Making Treaties

Answer 17

Hamilton discusses the reasons for the concurrent power of the Senate and Executive branch to make treaties.

Question 18

Brutus XI - Robert Yates

Judges

Answer 18

Not enough checks on the judges and given life tenure with no way of removing them.
They are isolated by separation of powers allowing them to independently take part in Legislation through Judicial Review with no higher authority to reverse decision. Supreme Court will lessen the states’ powers imposing it’s judgments and taking jurisdiction away from the States. No Real Federalism-unitary government.

Question 19

Federalist #63 - Madison

Senate: Strong & Stable

Answer 19

He argues that the Senate, a strong and the most stable member of the government, is needed to ensure lasting relations with foreign nations. He also notes that because Senators are elected to six-year terms, they will have sufficient time to be responsible for their actions. The Senate can also serve as a check on the people since, although during most times their will is just, they too are “subject to the [periodic] infection of violent passions.”

Question 20

Federalist #65 & #66 - Hamilton

Congress & Impeachment

Answer 20

Argues the use of Congress for the impeachment of public officials

Question 21

Federalist #72 - Hamilton

Executive terms

Answer 21

Argues that re-eligibility is essential to executive power. He believed that the Presidency must attract the most ambitious individuals and re-eligibility ensured that they would not attempt to extend their term in office unconstitutionally.