The Federalist Papers, Federalist No. 39 summary
Federalist No. 39 of 85 · 10 min to read the paper
In Federalist No. 39, Madison argues that the proposed Constitution meets republican standards because its authority comes directly or indirectly from the people. He then answers objections about consolidation by showing that the plan combines federal and national features in its foundation, institutions, operation, powers, and amendment process.
What happens
- Madison defines republican government by its popular source of authority and the conditions under which its officers serve.
- He compares the proposed institutions with State governments and identifies safeguards that confirm the plan’s republican character.
- Opponents charge that the convention replaces a confederacy of sovereign States with a consolidated national government.
- Madison classifies ratification as federal and the sources of ordinary governmental power as mixed.
- He describes government operations as national, but the limited scope of its powers as federal.
- He identifies amendment rules as mixed and concludes that the Constitution combines both forms.
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In this paper
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Why does Madison classify the Constitution’s foundation as federal?
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