Selections from The Federalist

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 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. Reeligibility 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