Federalist No. 49

Federalist No. 49 is an essay by James Madison, the forty-ninth of the Federalist Papers.[1] It was published on February 2, 1788 under the pseudonym "Publius", the name under which all the Federalist Papers were published.[1] It is titled, "Method of Guarding Against the Encroachments of Any One Department of Government by Appealing to the People Through a Convention."[2]

Summary

In this essay, Publius confronts directly some of the ideas raised by Thomas Jefferson in his Notes on the State of Virginia.[3] Jefferson's provision in question reads: "whenever any two of the three branches of government shall concur in opinion, each by the voices of two thirds of their whole number, that a convention is necessary for altering the Constitution, or correcting breaches of it, a convention shall be called for the purpose."[3] Publius begins by agreeing that there is logic to the idea of allowing the people to appeal through the use of a convention, but then explains that it would be unworkable and contradictory to the proposed Constitution.[4]

Publius explains that allowing the proposed conventions would allow the "public passions" to disturb the "public tranquility."[5] He explains that it would suggest a "defect" in the actions of the government, one that may erode the government completely.[6] He reminds his audience that it is a moment of public passion that has caused the drafters to write the proposed United States Constitution, and that it would be impractical to provide the opportunity for constant change once it is ratified.[5]

Publius also reasons that providing for this when any two of the three branches concur is not as safeguarding as may seem.[7] He notes that the Executive Branch and Judicial Branch of the proposed government are made up of a small number together, meaning that a small number of people could prompt the need for a convention.[7] Instead, he explains that the proposed Constitution provides for a Legislative Branch consisting of many representatives which can provide a check on the other two branches, and vice versa.[8]

Based on these reasons, Publius concludes that "appeals to the people would be neither a proper nor an effectual provision."[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Madison, James. "Federalist No. 49". The Avalon Project. Lillian Goldman Law Library, Yale University. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed49.asp. Retrieved 7 December 2011. 
  2. ^ Madison, James. "Federalist No. 49". The Federalist Papers. Library of Congress. http://thomas.loc.gov/home/histdox/fed_49.html. Retrieved 7 December 2011. 
  3. ^ a b The Federalist Papers. New York: New American Library, a division of Penguin Books. 1999. pp. 310. ISBN 0451528816. 
  4. ^ The Federalist Papers. New York: New American Library, a division of Penguin Books. 1999. pp. 310-311. ISBN 0451528816. 
  5. ^ a b The Federalist Papers. New York: New American Library, a division of Penguin Books. 1999. pp. 312. ISBN 0451528816. 
  6. ^ The Federalist Papers. New York: New American Library, a division of Penguin Books. 1999. pp. 311. ISBN 0451528816. 
  7. ^ a b The Federalist Papers. New York: New American Library, a division of Penguin Books. 1999. pp. 313. ISBN 0451528816. 
  8. ^ The Federalist Papers. New York: New American Library, a division of Penguin Books. 1999. pp. 313-314. ISBN 0451528816. 
  9. ^ The Federalist Papers. New York: New American Library, a division of Penguin Books. 1999. pp. 314. ISBN 0451528816. 

External links

The Avalon Project, Yale University

Library of Congress

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85
Related topics: Anti-Federalist Papers
 Book:Federalist Papers ·  Category:Federalist Papers ·  Portal:History  ·  Wikisource:The Federalist