The Federalist Papers
by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
The 85 essays written in 1787–1788 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the shared pseudonym "Publius" to urge ratification of the United States Constitution. Still the foundational exposition of American constitutional thought — the dangers of faction (No. 10), the separation of powers (No. 51), energy in the executive (No. 70), and judicial review (No. 78). One paper per email, in order. Text from the Avalon Project at Yale Law School.
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No. 1: General Introduction
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: AFTER an unequivocal experience of the inefficiency of the subsisting federal government, you are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the...
No. 2: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence
7 minTo the People of the State of New York: WHEN the people of America reflect that they are now called upon to decide a question, which, in its consequences, must prove one of the most important that...
No. 3: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT IS not a new observation that the people of any country (if, like the Americans, intelligent and wellinformed) seldom adopt and steadily persevere for many...
No. 4: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence
7 minTo the People of the State of New York: MY LAST paper assigned several reasons why the safety of the people would be best secured by union against the danger it may be exposed to by JUST causes of...
No. 5: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence
5 minTo the People of the State of New York: QUEEN ANNE , in her letter of the 1st July, 1706, to the Scotch Parliament, makes some observations on the importance of the UNION then forming between England...
No. 6: Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE three last numbers of this paper have been dedicated to an enumeration of the dangers to which we should be exposed, in a state of disunion, from the arms...
No. 7: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT IS sometimes asked, with an air of seeming triumph, what inducements could the States have, if disunited, to make war upon each other?
No. 8: The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: ASSUMING it therefore as an established truth that the several States, in case of disunion, or such combinations of them as might happen to be formed out of...
No. 9: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: A FIRM Union will be of the utmost moment to the peace and liberty of the States, as a barrier against domestic faction and insurrection.
No. 10: The Same Subject Continued The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
12 minTo the People of the State of New York: AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a wellconstructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the...
No. 11: The Utility of the Union in Respect to Commercial Relations and a Navy
10 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE importance of the Union, in a commercial light, is one of those points about which there is least room to entertain a difference of opinion, and which has,...
No. 12: The Utility of the Union In Respect to Revenue
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE effects of Union upon the commercial prosperity of the States have been sufficiently delineated.
No. 13: Advantage of the Union in Respect to Economy in Government
4 minTo the People of the State of New York: As CONNECTED with the subject of revenue, we may with propriety consider that of economy.
No. 14: Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Answered
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: WE HAVE seen the necessity of the Union, as our bulwark against foreign danger, as the conservator of peace among ourselves, as the guardian of our commerce...
No. 15: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
12 minTo the People of the State of New York. IN THE course of the preceding papers, I have endeavored, my fellow-citizens, to place before you, in a clear and convincing light, the importance of Union to...
No. 16: The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE tendency of the principle of legislation for States, or communities, in their political capacities, as it has been exemplified by the experiment we have...
No. 17: The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: AN OBJECTION, of a nature different from that which has been stated and answered, in my last address, may perhaps be likewise urged against the principle of...
No. 18: The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: AMONG the confederacies of antiquity, the most considerable was that of the Grecian republics, associated under the Amphictyonic council.
No. 19: The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE examples of ancient confederacies, cited in my last paper, have not exhausted the source of experimental instruction on this subject.
No. 20: The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency fo the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE United Netherlands are a confederacy of republics, or rather of aristocracies of a very remarkable texture, yet confirming all the lessons derived from...
No. 21: Other Defects of the Present Confederation
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: HAVING in the three last numbers taken a summary review of the principal circumstances and events which have depicted the genius and fate of other confederate...
No. 22: The Same Subject Continued: Other Defects of the Present Confederation
14 minTo the People of the State of New York: IN ADDITION to the defects already enumerated in the existing federal system, there are others of not less importance, which concur in rendering it altogether...
No. 23: The Necessity of a Government as Energetic as the One Proposed to the Preservation of the Union
7 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE necessity of a Constitution, at least equally energetic with the one proposed, to the preservation of the Union, is the point at the examination of which...
No. 24: The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: To THE powers proposed to be conferred upon the federal government, in respect to the creation and direction of the national forces, I have met with but one...
No. 25: The Same Subject Continued (The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered)
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT MAY perhaps be urged that the objects enumerated in the preceding number ought to be provided for by the State governments, under the direction of the Union.
No. 26: The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered
10 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT WAS a thing hardly to be expected that in a popular revolution the minds of men should stop at that happy mean which marks the salutary boundary between...
No. 27: The Same Subject Continued (The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered)
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT HAS been urged, in different shapes, that a Constitution of the kind proposed by the convention cannot operate without the aid of a military force to...
No. 28: The Same Subject Continued (The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered)
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: THAT there may happen cases in which the national government may be necessitated to resort to force, cannot be denied.
No. 29: Concerning the Militia
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE power of regulating the militia, and of commanding its services in times of insurrection and invasion are natural incidents to the duties of superintending...
No. 30: Concerning the General Power of Taxation
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT HAS been already observed that the federal government ought to possess the power of providing for the support of the national forces; in which proposition...
No. 31: The Same Subject Continued Concerning the General Power of Taxation
7 minTo the People of the State of New York: IN DISQUISITIONS of every kind, there are certain primary truths, or first principles, upon which all subsequent reasonings must depend.
No. 32: The Same Subject Continued Concerning the General Power of Taxation
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: ALTHOUGH I am of opinion that there would be no real danger of the consequences which seem to be apprehended to the State governments from a power in the Union...
No. 33: The Same Subject Continued Concerning the General Power of Taxation
7 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE residue of the argument against the provisions of the Constitution in respect to taxation is ingrafted upon the following clause.
No. 34: The Same Subject Continued Concerning the General Power of Taxation
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: I FLATTER myself it has been clearly shown in my last number that the particular States, under the proposed Constitution , would have COEQUAL authority with...
No. 35: The Same Subject Continued Concerning the General Power of Taxation
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: BEFORE we proceed to examine any other objections to an indefinite power of taxation in the Union, I shall make one general remark; which is, that if the...
No. 36: The Same Subject Continued Concerning the General Power of Taxation
11 minTo the People of the State of New York: WE HAVE seen that the result of the observations, to which the foregoing number has been principally devoted, is, that from the natural operation of the...
No. 37: Concerning the Difficulties of the Convention in Devising a Proper Form of Government
11 minTo the People of the State of New York: IN REVIEWING the defects of the existing Confederation, and showing that they cannot be supplied by a government of less energy than that before the public,...
No. 38: The Same Subject Continued, and the Incoherence of the Objections to the New Plan Exposed
13 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT IS not a little remarkable that in every case reported by ancient history, in which government has been established with deliberation and consent, the task...
No. 39: The Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles
10 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE last paper having concluded the observations which were meant to introduce a candid survey of the plan of government reported by the convention, we now...
No. 40: The Powers of the Convention to Form a Mixed Government Examined and Sustained
12 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE SECOND point to be examined is, whether the convention were authorized to frame and propose this mixed Constitution.
No. 41: General View of the Powers Conferred by The Constitution
14 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE Constitution proposed by the convention may be considered under two general points of view.
No. 42: The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered
11 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE SECOND class of powers, lodged in the general government, consists of those which regulate the intercourse with foreign nations, to wit: to make treaties;...
No. 43: The Same Subject Continued (The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered)
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE FOURTH class comprises the following miscellaneous powers: ''The indispensable necessity of complete authority at the seat of government, carries its own...
No. 44: Restrictions on the Authority of the Several States
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: A FIFTH class of provisions in favor of the federal authority consists of the following restrictions on the authority of the several States: ''The prohibition...
No. 45: The Alleged Danger From the Powers of the Union to the State Governments Considered
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: HAVING shown that no one of the powers transferred to the federal government is unnecessary or improper, the next question to be considered is, whether the...
No. 46: The Influence of the State and Federal Governments Compared
10 minTo the People of the State of New York: RESUMING the subject of the last paper, I proceed to inquire whether the federal government or the State governments will have the advantage with regard to the...
No. 47: The Particular Structure of the New Government and the Distribution of Power Among Its Different Parts
11 minTo the People of the State of New York: HAVING reviewed the general form of the proposed government and the general mass of power allotted to it, I proceed to examine the particular structure of this...
No. 48: These Departments Should Not Be So Far Separated as to Have No Constitutional Control Over Each Other
7 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT WAS shown in the last paper that the political apothegm there examined does not require that the legislative, executive, and judiciary departments should be...
No. 49: Method of Guarding Against the Encroachments of Any One Department of Government by Appealing to the People Through a Convention
7 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE author of the "Notes on the State of Virginia,'' quoted in the last paper, has subjoined to that valuable work the draught of a constitution, which had...
No. 50: Periodical Appeals to the People Considered
4 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT MAY be contended, perhaps, that instead of OCCASIONAL appeals to the people, which are liable to the objections urged against them, PERIODICAL appeals are...
No. 51: The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: TO WHAT expedient, then, shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in...
No. 52: The House of Representatives
7 minTo the People of the State of New York: FROM the more general inquiries pursued in the four last papers, I pass on to a more particular examination of the several parts of the government.
No. 53: The Same Subject Continued (The House of Representatives)
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: I SHALL here, perhaps, be reminded of a current observation, "that where annual elections end, tyranny begins.
No. 54: The Apportionment of Members Among the States
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE next view which I shall take of the House of Representatives relates to the appointment of its members to the several States which is to be determined by...
No. 55: The Total Number of the House of Representatives
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE number of which the House of Representatives is to consist, forms another and a very interesting point of view, under which this branch of the federal...
No. 56: The Same Subject Continued (The Total Number of the House of Representatives)
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE SECOND charge against the House of Representatives is, that it will be too small to possess a due knowledge of the interests of its constituents.
No. 57: The Alleged Tendency of the New Plan to Elevate the Few at the Expense of the Many Considered in Connection with Representation
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE THIRD charge against the House of Representatives is, that it will be taken from that class of citizens which will have least sympathy with the mass of the...
No. 58: Objection That The Number of Members Will Not Be Augmented as the Progress of Population Demands Considered
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE remaining charge against the House of Representatives, which I am to examine, is grounded on a supposition that the number of members will not be augmented...
No. 59: Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE natural order of the subject leads us to consider, in this place, that provision of the Constitution which authorizes the national legislature to regulate,...
No. 60: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members)
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: WE HAVE seen, that an uncontrollable power over the elections to the federal government could not, without hazard, be committed to the State legislatures.
No. 61: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members)
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE more candid opposers of the provision respecting elections, contained in the plan of the convention, when pressed in argument, will sometimes concede the...
No. 62: The Senate
10 minTo the People of the State of New York: HAVING examined the constitution of the House of Representatives, and answered such of the objections against it as seemed to merit notice, I enter next on the...
No. 63: The Senate Continued
12 minTo the People of the State of New York: A FIFTH desideratum, illustrating the utility of a senate, is the want of a due sense of national character.
No. 64: The Powers of the Senate
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT IS a just and not a new observation, that enemies to particular persons, and opponents to particular measures, seldom confine their censures to such things...
No. 65: The Powers of the Senate Continued
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE remaining powers which the plan of the convention allots to the Senate, in a distinct capacity, are comprised in their participation with the executive in...
No. 66: Objections to the Power of the Senate To Set as a Court for Impeachments Further Considered
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: A REVIEW of the principal objections that have appeared against the proposed court for the trial of impeachments, will not improbably eradicate the remains of...
No. 67: The Executive Department
7 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE constitution of the executive department of the proposed government, claims next our attention.
No. 68: The Mode of Electing the President
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE mode of appointment of the Chief Magistrate of the United States is almost the only part of the system, of any consequence, which has escaped without...
No. 69: The Real Character of the Executive
12 minTo the People of the State of New York: I PROCEED now to trace the real characters of the proposed Executive, as they are marked out in the plan of the convention.
No. 70: The Executive Department Further Considered
25 minTo the People of the State of New York: THERE is an idea, which is not without its advocates, that a vigorous Executive is inconsistent with the genius of republican government.
No. 71: The Duration in Office of the Executive
7 minTo the People of the State of New York: DURATION in office has been mentioned as the second requisite to the energy of the Executive authority.
No. 72: The Same Subject Continued, and Re-Eligibility of the Executive Considered
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE administration of government, in its largest sense, comprehends all the operations of the body politic, whether legislative, executive, or judiciary; but...
No. 73: The Provision For The Support of the Executive, and the Veto Power
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE third ingredient towards constituting the vigor of the executive authority, is an adequate provision for its support.
No. 74: The Command of the Military and Naval Forces, and the Pardoning Power of the Executive
4 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE President of the United States is to be "commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States WHEN CALLED...
No. 75: The Treaty-Making Power of the Executive
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE President is to have power, "by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the senators present concur.
No. 76: The Appointing Power of the Executive
9 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE President is "to NOMINATE, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the...
No. 77: The Appointing Power Continued and Other Powers of the Executive Considered
8 minTo the People of the State of New York: IT HAS been mentioned as one of the advantages to be expected from the co-operation of the Senate, in the business of appointments, that it would contribute to...
No. 78: The Judiciary Department
12 minTo the People of the State of New York: WE PROCEED now to an examination of the judiciary department of the proposed government.
No. 79: The Judiciary Continued
4 minTo the People of the State of New York: NEXT to permanency in office, nothing can contribute more to the independence of the judges than a fixed provision for their support.
No. 80: The Powers of the Judiciary
10 minTo the People of the State of New York: To JUDGE with accuracy of the proper extent of the federal judicature, it will be necessary to consider, in the first place, what are its proper objects.
No. 81: The Judiciary Continued, and the Distribution of the Judicial Authority
16 minTo the People of the State of New York: LET US now return to the partition of the judiciary authority between different courts, and their relations to each other, "The judicial power of the United...
No. 82: The Judiciary Continued
6 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE erection of a new government, whatever care or wisdom may distinguish the work, cannot fail to originate questions of intricacy and nicety; and these may,...
No. 83: The Judiciary Continued in Relation to Trial by Jury
23 minTo the People of the State of New York: THE objection to the plan of the convention, which has met with most success in this State, and perhaps in several of the other States, is THAT RELATIVE TO THE...
No. 84: Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and Answered
17 minTo the People of the State of New York: IN THE course of the foregoing review of the Constitution, I have taken notice of, and endeavored to answer most of the objections which have appeared against...
No. 85: Concluding Remarks
11 minTo the People of the State of New York: ACCORDING to the formal division of the subject of these papers, announced in my first number, there would appear still to remain for discussion two points:...