in the union
No. 42 The same view continued
No. 43 The same view continued
No. 44 The same view continued and concluded
No. 45 A further discussion of the supposed danger from the powers of the union, to the state governments
No. 46 The subject of the last paper resumed; with an examination of the comparative means of influence of the federal and state governments
No. 47 The meaning of the maxim, which requires a separation of the departments of power, examined and ascertained
No. 48 The same subject continued, with a view to the means of giving efficacy in practice to that maxim
No. 49 The same subject continued, with the same view
No. 50 The same subject continued, with the same view
No. 51 The same subject continued, with the same view, and concluded
No. 52 Concerning the house of representatives, with a view to the qualifications of the electors and elected, and the time of service of the members
No. 53 The same subject continued, with a view of the term of service of the members
No. 54 The same subject continued, with a view to the ratio of representation
No. 55 The same subject continued, in relation to the total number of the body
No. 56 The subject continued, in relation to the same point
No. 57 The same subject continued, in relation to the supposed tendency of the plan of the convention to elevate the few above the many
No. 58 The same subject continued, in relation to the future augmentation of the members
No. 59 Concerning the regulation of elections
No. 60 The same subject continued
No. 61 The same subject continued, and concluded
No. 62 Concerning the constitution of the senate, with regard to the qualifications of the members; the manner of appointing them; the equality of representation; the number of the senators, and the duration of their appointments
No. 63 A further view of the constitution of the senate, in regard to the duration of the appointment of its members
No. 64 A further view of the constitution of the senate, in regard to the power of making treaties
No. 65 A further view of the constitution of the senate, in relation to its capacity, as a court for the trial of impeachments
No. 66 The same subject continued
No. 67 Concerning the constitution of the president: a gross attempt to misrepresent this part of the plan detected
No. 68 The view of the constitution of the president continued, in relation to the mode of appointment
No. 69 The same view continued, with a comparison between the president and the king of Great Britain, on the one hand, and the governor of New York, on the other
No. 70 The same view continued, in relation to the unity of the executive, and with an examination of the project of an executive council
No. 71 The same view continued, in regard to the duration of the office
No. 72 The same view continued, in regard to the re-eligibility of the president
No. 73 The same view continued, in relation to the provision concerning support, and the power of the negative
No. 74 The same view continued, in relation to the command of the national forces, and the power of pardoning
No. 75 The same view continued, in relation to the power of making treaties
No. 76 The same view continued, in relation to the appointment of the officers of the government
No. 77 The view of the constitution of the president concluded, with a further consideration of the power of appointment, and a concise examination of his remaining powers
No. 78 A view of the constitution of the judicial department in relation to the tenure of good behaviour
No. 79 A further view of the judicial department, in relation to the provisions for the support and responsibility of the judges
No. 80 A further view of the judicial department, in relation to the extent of its powers
No. 81 A further view of the judicial department, in relation to the distribution of its authority
No. 82 A further view of the judicial department, in reference to some miscellaneous questions
No. 83 A further view of the judicial department, in relation to the trial by jury
No. 84 Concerning several miscellaneous objections
No. 85 Conclusion
Glossary
Appendixes
1. The Declaration of Independence
2. Articles of Confederation
3. Virginia Resolution Proposing the Annapolis Convention
4. Proceedings of the Annapolis Convention
5. Virginia Resolution Providing Delegates to the Federal Convention of 1787
6. Call by the Continental Congress for the Federal Convention of 1787
7. Resolution of the Federal Convention Submitting the Constitution to the Continental Congress
8. Washington’s Letter of Transmittal to the President of the Continental Congress
9. Resolution of the Continental Congress Submitting the Constitution to the Several States
10. Letter of the Secretary of the Continental Congress Transmitting Copy of the Constitution to the Several Governors
The Constitution of the United States (cross-referenced with The Federalist) and Amendments
Index
The American Constitution is the oldest written national constitution in the world.1 Its durability and veneration over the years would seem to affirm Thomas Jefferson’s estimate that the fundamental law of the American people “is unquestionably the wisest ever yet presented to men.”2
At the time of its adoption, however, Americans were deeply divided over its merits. When the delegates to the Federal Convention of 1787 completed their work in Philadelphia and voted on September 17 to approve the new Constitution and submit it to the people in the several States for ratification, three leading members of the convention—Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts—refused to sign. Others simply left the convention before the proceedings ended. Of the fifty-five