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Publius Reader

All 85 Essays, one argument.

Hamilton, Madison & Jay’s complete case for the Constitution, free to read, right here on Liberty Nation.

51Hamilton29Madison5Jay

Essential Reading

No. 1 · Hamilton

The general introduction: why a strong Union matters

General Introduction

No. 10 · Madison

The Union as a safeguard against the violence of faction

The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection

No. 51 · Madison

Checks and balances: how separated powers control government

The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments

No. 78 · Hamilton

The judiciary as the "least dangerous" branch, and the case for judicial review

The Judiciary Department

I

The Introduction

Nos. 1 · Hamilton

1General IntroductionSets the terms of the entire ratification debate.
II

The Value of Union

Nos. 2–14 · Jay, Hamilton & Madison

2Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence
3Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence
4Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence
5Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence
6Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States
7Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States
8The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States
9The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
10The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and InsurrectionMadison’s most celebrated essay: how a large republic controls the “violence of faction.”
11The Utility of the Union in Respect to Commercial Relations and a Navy
12The Utility of the Union In Respect to Revenue
13Advantage of the Union in Respect to Economy in Government
14Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory AnsweredAnswers the objection that a republic can’t govern a territory as large as America.
III

Failures of the Confederation

Nos. 15–22 · Hamilton & Madison

15The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
16The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
17The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
18The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
19The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
20The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
21Other Defects of the Present Confederation
22Other Defects of the Present Confederation
IV

A Government with Real Power

Nos. 23–36 · Hamilton

23The Necessity of a Government as Energetic as the One Proposed to the Preservation of the Union
24The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered
25The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered
26The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered
27The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered
28The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered
29Concerning the Militia
30Concerning the General Power of Taxation
31Concerning the General Power of Taxation
32Concerning the General Power of Taxation
33Concerning the General Power of Taxation
34Concerning the General Power of Taxation
35Concerning the General Power of Taxation
36Concerning the General Power of Taxation
V

Republican Principles & Structure

Nos. 37–51 · Madison

37Concerning the Difficulties of the Convention in Devising a Proper Form of Government
38, and the Incoherence of the Objections to the New Plan Exposed
39The Conformity of the Plan to Republican PrinciplesDefines exactly what makes the proposed government genuinely republican.
40The Powers of the Convention to Form a Mixed Government Examined and Sustained
41General View of the Powers Conferred by the Constitution
42The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered
43The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered
44Restrictions on the Authority of the Several States
45The Alleged Danger From the Powers of the Union to the State Governments Considered
46The Influence of the State and Federal Governments Compared
47The Particular Structure of the New Government and the Distribution of Power Among Its Different PartsSeparation of powers, argued through Montesquieu.
48These Departments Should Not Be So Far Separated as to Have No Constitutional Control Over Each Other
49Method of Guarding Against the Encroachments of Any One Department of Government by Appealing to the People Through a Convention
50Periodic Appeals to the People Considered
51The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
VI

The Congress

Nos. 52–66 · Madison & Hamilton

52The House of Representatives
53The House of Representatives
54The Apportionment of Members Among the States
55The Total Number of the House of Representatives
56The Total Number of the House of Representatives
57The Alleged Tendency of the New Plan to Elevate the Few at the Expense of the Many Considered in Connection with Representation
58Objection That The Number of Members Will Not Be Augmented as the Progress of Population Demands Considered
59Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members
60Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members
61Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members
62The Senate
63The Senate Continued
64The Powers of the Senate
65The Powers of the Senate Continued
66Objections to the Power of the Senate To Set as a Court for Impeachments Further Considered
VII

The Presidency

Nos. 67–77 · Hamilton

67The Executive Department
68The Mode of Electing the President
69The Real Character of the Executive
70The Executive Department Further Considered“Energy in the executive”: the case for a single president.
71The Duration in Office of the Executive
72, and Re-Eligibility of the Executive Considered
73The Provision For The Support of the Executive, and the Veto Power
74The Command of the Military and Naval Forces, and the Pardoning Power of the Executive
75The Treaty Making Power of the Executive
76The Appointing Power of the Executive
77The Appointing Power Continued and Other Powers of the Executive Considered
VIII

The Courts

Nos. 78–83 · Hamilton

78The Judiciary DepartmentThe judiciary as the “least dangerous branch” and the roots of judicial review.
79The Judiciary Department Continued
80The Powers of the Judiciary
81The Judiciary Continued, and the Distribution of the Judicial Authority
82The Judiciary Continued
83The Judiciary Continued in Relation to Trial by Jury
IX

Answering the Objections

Nos. 84–85 · Hamilton

84Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and AnsweredHamilton argues a Bill of Rights is not only unnecessary but potentially dangerous.
85Concluding Remarks

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