Book Review: The Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison

The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

After the success of the American War of Independence, the newly united colonies adopted the Articles of Confederation to create a federal government over the thirteen states. That government turned out to be disastrously dysfunctional. Recognizing the need for a stronger and more well-crafted federal government, the states sent representatives to Philadelphia to draft the Constitution of the United States. In the interests of persuading the State of New York to approve the Constitution, three men wrote a series of articles in favor from October 1787 to April 1788 under the pseudonym Publius. The papers were subsequently published as a book and stand as a thorough explanation of the benefits of the new American Constitution.

The series starts at a higher level, discussing the nature of a republic then working its way down into the various articles in the Constitution. The discussions of the legislative, executive, and judiciary are quite thorough, answering specific objections and potential problems that might arise. The authors reference classical republics like in ancient Rome and Greece (they love Plutarch's Lives!) as well as more contemporary examples from Europe, especially Great Britain. They also cite the various constitutions of the various states, comparing how they handle legislatures, executives, and judiciaries, focusing on what can be learned from those contemporary experiences and examples.

The Constitution is clearly designed to balance out the powers of the various branches of government so no one branch can be dominant. The executive can put a check on laws passed by the legislature, forcing them to have a large majority to override a presidential veto. The judiciary (which they thought was the weakest part of the government) can judge certain actions or laws as compatible with the Constitution and the subsequent laws of the land, but they have no ability to craft or enforce laws. Several powers are spread over branches, like the appointment of ambassadors. The executive nominates candidates who need approval from the Senate, keeping crass cronyism by the executive in check. The legislature needs to be careful using that power too, risking an appearance of political obstruction rather than proper governing. The checks and balances keep people from giving in to their worse instincts or exploiting their positions for personal gains. The sense of the fallenness of human nature is palpable. The needed correctives make a lot of sense, discouraging bad behavior and encouraging virtuous action.

Some things have changed since the Federalist Papers, like the election of the President. Rather than voting on electors who will subsequently vote on the President, the American system has adapted somewhat, with a state's majority candidate receiving the votes assigned to that state (the number of Representatives plus two for the Senators). The system was designed from the beginning to be adaptable. They anticipated the House of Representatives could grow to 100 or 200 members, even though now it is 435. Having a deliberately dynamic Constitution has enabled the country to last so long, even through mistakes like slavery and and flip-flopping on Prohibition. 

These papers, even though they are political commentary that's over 200 years old, are well worth reading for a better understanding of how the Founding Fathers thought a political system should work and how our country has lasted so long through so many challenges.

Highly recommended.