Lecture Notes: Cato No. 5 and the Anti-Federalist Papers

Introduction

• Presenter: Jason
• Topic: Discussion of Cato No. 5 from the Anti-Federalist Papers
• Cato is believed to be George Clinton, Governor of New York

Overview of Cato No. 5

• Summarizes issues discussed in previous papers, specifically about the presidency
• Cato is unique among Anti-Federalists for discussing the presidency and its potential problems

Key Points Discussed

Assumption of No Tyranny

• Federalists believed America wouldn't accept tyranny due to a tradition of freedom
• Cato warns against assuming this, citing ancient Rome's fall to dictatorship
• American people are not inherently different from others in history

Concerns About the Constitution

• Cato argues the Constitution makes it more difficult for people to protect their freedoms

Discussion on Congress

• General Elections

  • Most free governments have annual elections to maintain accountability
  • Annual elections allow for removal of ineffective politicians
  • Merit-based politicians vs. power-accumulating politicians

• House of Representatives

  • Elected biannually, which is less frequent than annual elections

• Senate

  • Originally appointed by states, not elected
  • Concerns over senators being 'virtual representatives'

Presidential Appointments

• President can make temporary appointments when Congress is not in session
• Concerns these appointees might feel obliged to align with the president's views

Representation Issues

• Concern over too few representatives for the population
• Example: New York's representation
• Challenges in governing a larger population with fewer representatives

Reference to Brutus

• Cato references Brutus, likely Robert Yates, who provided in-depth analysis
• Refers audience to Brutus number three for more on representation and government proximity

Conclusion

• Cato No. 5 wraps up several Anti-Federalist arguments
• Encourages readers to consult Brutus for more information
• Video encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more content

Additional Notes

• Video is part of a series on Anti-Federalist papers
• Presenter uploads videos daily on related topics.