Alexander Hamilton was an American statesman and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was an influential interpreter and promoter of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the founder of the nation's financial system, the Federalist Party, the United States Coast Guard, and the New York Post newspaper. James Madison Jr. was an American statesman and Founding Father who served as the fourth President of the United States from 1809 to 1817. He is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

• Editor’s Introduction vii1. Introduction I2. The Value of Union 49. The Union a Safeguard against Domestic Disturbances 710. The Union a Check on Faction 911. Commercial Advantages of Union 1614. Objections to the Union on the Score of Extent of Territory 1815. Defects of the Present Confederation Arising from Dependence on State Governments 2121. Fundamental Defects of the Present Confederation 2522. Specific Defects of the Present Confederation 3023. Necessity of an Energetic Government 3826. Grounds for Restraining Legislative Authority over Armies 4227. Impossibility of a National Government without a National Force 4331. Necessity for Unlimited Power of Taxation 4732. Exclusive and Concurrent Taxing Powers in a Federal System 5033. Taxation Considered with Respect to General Powers 5234. Taxation with Respect to Military Necessity 5635. Taxation in Relation to Class Interests 5837. Difficulties of the Convention in Framing a Constitution 6139. Conformity of the Constitution to Republican Principles 6641. General View of Powers Conferred by the Constitution 7144. Restrictions on the Powers of the States 7545. The Alleged Danger of National Power to the States 8251. The System of Checks and Balances in the Government 8564. The Treaty Making Powers of the Senate 8969. Comparison of the Powers of the President with those of Other Executives 9371. The Term of Office of the President 9772. Reëligibility of the President 10073. The Veto Power of the President 10575. The Treaty Making Power of the President 10978. The Judiciary Department and Judicial Review 11380. The Extent of Judicial Powers 12081. The Distribution of Judicial Authority 12682. The Relation of Federal and State Courts 13184. The Propriety of a Bill of Rights 13485. Summary and Conclusion 139Bibliography 145