The Federalist Papers, by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, were written to the people of New York state to defend the new Constitution of the United States. A classic in political literature, it is said to be a better guide to the Constitution than the Constitution itself.#

After much procrastination, I have read these papers and will highlight some interesting moments and general thoughts.#

In general, I found it interesting to see how the problems anticipated by the Framers, as explained by the authors, were different from the problems that have actually caused problems for the liberty of the people -- i.e. Jackson, Lincoln, FDR, etc. But, I can imagine that had those problems been addressed explicitly than some other problems may have occurred -- i.e. there is "something unseen" that was prevented, so it is difficult to judge the job of the Framers.#

No. 10: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection (Continued)#

Madison on faction, its problems and solutions:#

It could never be more truly said than of the first remedy that it was worse than the disease. Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be a less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency. [p. 73]

No. 15: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederacy to Preserve the Union#

Hamilton explains that the power to make laws implies the power to enforce them adequately, which implies that the federal government should be empowered to perform all necessary and proper acts to enforce its laws. But, what I like about this passage is the identification with coercion as the single force of government.#

Government implies the power of making laws. It is essential to the idea of a law that it be attended with a sanction; or, in other words, a penalty or punishment for disobedience. If there be no penalty annexed to disobedience, the resolutions or commands which pretend to be laws will, in fact, amount to nothing more than advice or recommendation. This penalty, whatever it may be, can only be inflicted in two ways: by the agency of the courts and ministers of justice, or by military force; by the COERCION of the magistracy, or by the COERCION of arms. [p. 105]

No. 41: General View of the Powers Conferred by the Constitution#

Madison explicitly discusses the logic of stating a general case and then specify the only subcases -- i.e. the enumerable powers. (This occurs on page 259 and is primarily for my reference.)#

No. 76: The Appointing Power of the Executive#

Hamilton mentions the problem of log-rolling, which I first read about and understood the implications of in The Calculus of Consent, by James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock. (This is one page 455.)#