An Appeal to Union
When various objections to the draft Constitution arose in the fall of 1787, James Madison asked his fellow citizens to shun despair. The future was bright if Americans did not… Read more »
Tag: James Madison
Article V: Let Experience be Our Guide
Article V opponents often echo, from The John Birch Society and Eagle Forum talking points, an admonition to “Just enforce the Constitution we have.” On the other hand, our Framers,… Read more »
Spirit of Governments
On February 18th, 1792, James Madison posted an anonymous squib in his newspaper, the National Gazette. He asked: May not governments be properly divided, according to their predominant spirit and… Read more »
States, The Natural Second Party
While political parties ideally represent the common interests of their members, a contradiction has developed within the GOP over the past twenty years. Leadership and rank-and-file members work toward irreconcilable… Read more »
Men of Little Faith: Anti-Federalists and Article V Opponents
There is a parallel conservatism shared by the framing era Anti-Federalists and today’s Article V opponents. Conservatism in this sense is the tendency to hold on to what is known… Read more »
James Madison’s Council of Revision and Modern Judicial Review
While our Constitution famously set up a government of divided powers, the powers within each branch are not absolute. Each is subject to various checks from the others. Congress is… Read more »