The Federalist Papers

Question 1

No 1: General Introduction

Hamilton

Answer 1

The uncertain role of motives in politics. Makes a case for the political prosperity of the Union.

Question 2

No 2: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence

Jay

Answer 2

The necessity of government. One connected country means one united people. The blessings of Union versus the dangers of separate Confederacies.

Question 3

No 3: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence [continued]
Jay

Answer 3

The Union is better able to settle international differences.

Question 4

No 4: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence [continued]
Jay

Answer 4

Greater ability to compel respect of other nations and prevent their attacking us from jealousy of our successful trade.

Question 5

No 5: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence [continued]
Jay

Answer 5

The Union secures us from foreign influence in the several States which would exist if they were not united, and prevents their alliance with foreign and rival nations.

Question 6

No 6: Concerning Dangers from Dissensions and Between the States
Hamilton

Answer 6

Illustrates reasons for these dissensions if States remain disunited, and especially the dangers from personal ambitions in small states.

Question 7

No 7: Concerning Dangers from Dissensions and Between the States [continued]
Hamilton

Answer 7

Causes for dissensions among States if disunited enumerated - territorial disputes - the competition of commerce - the public debt - laws violating contracts - incompatible alliances.

Question 8

No 8: The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States

Hamilton

Answer 8

Destruction of life and property. Standing [state] armies, extensions of executive power, the rise of the military over the civil power.

Question 9

No 9: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
Hamilton

Answer 9

Montesquieu’s view. Distinction between confederation and consolidation. The proposed Constitution a confederate-republican form.

Question 10

No 10: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection [continued]
Hamilton

Answer 10

Superiority of a representative government to a democracy in preventing factions.

Question 11

No 11: The Utility of the Union in Respect to Commercial Relations and a Navy
Hamilton

Answer 11

Foreign relations jealous of our commerce. Need uniformity of action. Respect commanded by a navy. Effects of disunion on commerce, on the fisheries, on navigation of the waterways and sea.

Question 12

No 12: The Utility of the Union in Respect to Revenue

Hamilton

Answer 12

The need of revenue, and the best sources for is ensured by the Union.

Question 13

No 13: Advantage of the Union in Respect to Economy in Government
Hamilton

Answer 13

Small confederacies will be formed, each as expensive as the single Confederacy proposed.

Question 14

No 14: Objections to the Proposed Constitution from Extent of Territory Answered.
Madison

Answer 14

Intercourse between the States will be promoted . All states will be exposed and all need protection.

Question 15

No 15: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
Hamilton

Answer 15

Evil results of the present Confederation. Impotence of the Confederation for efficient government.

Question 16

No 16: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union [continued]
Hamilton

Answer 16

The present Confederation leads to domestic war, foreign influence, national ruin, and military despotism.

Question 17

No 17: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
Hamilton

Answer 17

Federal governments tend to anarchy , not tyranny.

Question 18

No 21: Other Defects of the Present Confederation

Hamilton

Answer 18

No power to exact obedience, no power to punish disobedience, no power to use force with the States, no power to assist a State in enforcing its own laws.

Question 19

No 22: Other Defects of the Present Confederation [continued]
Hamilton

Answer 19

No power to regulate commerce. The want of judiciary power.

Question 20

No 23: The Necessity of a Government as Energetic as the One Proposed to the Preservation of the Union
Hamilton

Answer 20

The common defense of the States and the powers necessary.

Question 21

No 24: The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered
Hamilton

Answer 21

No interdiction is State constitutions, with two exceptions to standing armies and our commerce demands a navy.

Question 22

No 25: The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered [continued]
Hamilton

Answer 22

The common defense cannot be entrusted to the separate states because it would be oppressive to some states, might be dangerous to all, would create jealousies between the States, and might imperil the authority of the Union. Standing armies sometimes necessary when there is no foreign war.

Question 23

No 26: The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered
Hamilton

Answer 23

Giving authority to Congress a sufficient safeguard.

Question 24

No 27: The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered [continued]
Hamilton

Answer 24

The laws of the Union, so far as they go, to be the supreme law of the land.

Question 25

No 30: Concerning the General Power of Taxation

Hamilton

Answer 25

The general power will bring out the resources of the country and give confidence to lenders.

Question 26

No 34: Concerning the General Power of Taxation [continued]

Hamilton

Answer 26

Needs of the federal government for large powers of taxation.

Question 27

No 42: The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered
Madison

Answer 27

Regulation of intercourse with foreign nations - ambassadors, consuls, and treaties. Punishment of piracy, felonies on the high seas, and offenses against the laws of nations. Maintenance of harmony and proper intercourse among the States. Coinage of money. Standard weights and measures. Bankruptcy laws. Rules for proving public acts. Post roads and post offices.

Question 28

No 43: The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered [continued]
Madison

Answer 28

Copyrights and patents. Punishment of treason. Admission of new states. Government of territories and control of public property.

Question 29

No 44: Restrictions on the Authority of the Several States

Madison

Answer 29

Forbidding the establishment of treaties and alliances between States. The supremacy of the Constitution, the constitutional laws, and treaties.

Question 30

No 45: The Alleged Danger from the Powers of the Union to the State Governments Considered
Madison

Answer 30

The new Constitution not dangerous to the State governments, because: the tendency in confederacies is to weaken the central power; the State governments will have more influence among the people; the State governments are essential parts of the federal government; the officers of the United States are less numerous than those of the States; the reserved powers are relatively greater than those delegated; the proposed change consists less in giving new than in strengthening old powers.

Question 31

No 48: These Departments Should Not Be So Far Separated as to Have No Constitutional Control Over Each Other
Madison

Answer 31

Powers of one department, it is conceded, should not be exercised by another. One department should not have an overruling influence over another.

Question 32

No 51: The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments.
Madison

Answer 32

Advantages of the federal government in securing the rights of the people.

Question 33

No 54: The Apportionment of Members Among States

Madison

Answer 33

Votes in Congress should be proportioned to the wealth of the States. No inducement for falsifying the census, as it is the basis of taxation as well as representation.

Question 34

No 55: The Total Number of the House of Representatives

Madison

Answer 34

Small states require smaller ratios. Limited powers of Congress do not demand a numerous representation.

Question 35

No 56: The Total Number of the House of Representatives [continued]
Madison

Answer 35

The representative ought to know the interests of his constituents.

Question 36

No 57: The Alleged Tendency of the New Plan to Elevate the Few at the Expense of the Many Considered in Connection with Representation
Madison

Answer 36

Members elected by and taken from all classes.

Question 37

No 62: The Senate

Madison

Answer 37

Qualifications of Senators. Equality of representation in Senate. Need of such an upper house as a security against improper legislation, against the infirmity of faction, against ignorant legislation, against mutability in its councils from frequent changes of members.

Question 38

No 69: The Real Character of the Executive

Hamilton

Answer 38

A single person. Liable to impeachment, remove from office, and punishment by civil law. Commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States. Pardoning power. Treaty-making power.

Question 39

No 70: The Executive Department Further Considered

Hamilton

Answer 39

A vigorous executive consistent with republican government.

Question 40

No 71: The Duration in Officer of the Executive

Hamilton

Answer 40

The Executive should not be subservient to popular impulses or to those of the legislature.

Question 41

No 72: The Same Subject Continued, and Re-eligibility of the Executive Considered
Hamilton

Answer 41

Duration in office affects stability of administration. A limit of a single term would diminish inducements to good behavior, increase temptations to misconduct, prevent experience in the office, deprive the country in emergencies of the services of the best men, and act as a constitutional barrier to stability of administration.

Question 42

No 76: The Appointing Power of the Executive

Hamilton

Answer 42

This power cannot be exercised by the people at large. It will cause a livelier sense of duty in the Executive. He may be overruled by the Senate. Concurrence of the Senate is a check on favoritism. Whole body of the Senate cannot be corrupted. Protection of the Constitution.

Question 43

No 78: The Judiciary Department

Hamilton

Answer 43

Tenured appointment. Judiciary the least dangerous branch. Need of complete independence under a limited Constitution.

Question 44

No 79: The Judiciary Continued

Hamilton

Answer 44

Judges liable to impeachment.

Question 45

No 80: The Powers of the Judiciary

Hamilton

Answer 45

To what cases the judicial authority ought to extend? To all cases which arise from duly enacted laws of the Union.

Question 46

No 81: The Judiciary Continued, and the Distribution of the Judiciary Authority
Hamilton

Answer 46

Propriety of establishing one court of final and supreme jurisdiction. Propriety of delegating judicial authority to a distinct department (branch). This delegation of authority secures more completely the separation of of the judiciary from the legislature, recognizes more fully the principle of good behavior as a tenure, secures greater legal ability, and removes the judiciary from party strife. That no legislature can rectify judicial mistakes except as to future action, and the danger of encroachments by the judiciary on the legislature considered. Advantage of dividing the United States into judicial districts.