The Federalist Papers (Excerpts)

Federalist Paper #1

• Main Obstacles to the New Constitution:
  • Resistance from certain state office holders fearing loss of power and status.
  • Ambition of those who may benefit from national disorder or favor smaller confederacies.
• Government and Liberty:
  • Strong government is essential to liberty.
  • Dangerous ambitions often hide behind zeal for people's rights.
  • Historically, many who disrupted republics began by courting the populace, later becoming tyrants.

Federalist Paper #10

• Union's Advantages:
  • Greatest advantage is controlling faction violence.
• Understanding Factions:
  • Factions are groups driven by passion against community interests.
• Methods to Address Factions:
  • Remove causes (impossible without destroying liberty).
  • Control effects.
  • Liberty is essential but also fuels factions, akin to air fueling fire.
• Republic vs Democracy:
  • Democracy unsuitable for controlling factions due to direct governance.
  • A republic, with elected representatives, can better manage factions.
  • Larger republics (Union) better at managing factions than smaller states.

Federalist Paper #51

• Separation of Powers:
  • Essential for liberty.
  • Each government branch must have its own will and resist encroachments.
  • Government reflects human nature; controls necessary as men are not angels.
• Government Structure:
  • Legislative branch naturally dominant; needs division and checks.
  • Executive needs fortification against legislative overreach.
• Double Security for Rights:
  • Division between federal and state governments and within them ensures protection.

Federalist Paper #84

• Bill of Rights Debate:
  • Criticism of Constitution lacking a Bill of Rights.
  • Bills of rights traditionally limit monarchical power, not applicable to a people-governed constitution.
  • Constitution itself serves as a bill of rights.
  • Specifying rights could imply ungranted powers exist.
  • Constitution provides ample political freedoms and security measures not found in state constitutions.
• Union as Political Happiness:
  • General consensus on the necessity of Union for political stability.
  • Current system inadequate; new powers and government structure needed.