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The Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers are a series of eight-five anonymous phamplets by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison urging for the ratification of the United States Constitution under the pseudonym "Publius." These papers were first published serially from October 1787 to August 1788 in New York City newspapers. Gottfried Dietze observes:

The political thinking of the Federalist was formed during the American Revolution, a period distinguished by the quest for individual freedom, for peace among states, and for security from foreign nations. 1

Hamilton, Madison and Jay hoped to persuade a strong opposition in George Clinton's New York State to assent to ratifiction of the proposed Constitution. New York was of course a hotbed of Anti-Federalism at the time. Within the Federalist were answers to common objections and assuring acknowledgements that the proposed federal government was limited by Constitution to enumerated objects of power, and amenable to the states.

1. 1. The Federalist: A Classic on Federalism and Free Government. (Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins Press, 1999), p. 3.

Principles for a Free Civil Society

• A Constitutional Federal Republic: The United States was framed as a constitutionally-limited republic, which places limits not only on the powers of government but also on that of majority rule. Our Constitution and federal system with its checks and balances and institutional safeguards is perhaps the best framework devised in human history for procuring ordered liberty.
• The Scope of Limited Government: The proper and rightful function of government is to defend the people and territorial integrity of our Union, as well as provide for an equitable, just, and fair administration of justice.