A people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.
The Essential Federalist Papers
The Best Commentary Ever Written About the Principles of Government
Edited by Steve Straub
PDF (266 Pages): (U) Essential-Federalist-Papers
Abuse of power …………………………………………………………………………… 6
Altering the Constitution …………………………………………………………….. 7
Appointment of officers ………………………………………………………………. 8
Arms …………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
Bill of rights ………………………………………………………………………………. 13
Checks and balances …………………………………………………………………… 15
Constitution is not alterable by government …………………………………. 26
Constitution is recommended not imposed …………………………………… 27
Constitutional Convention ………………………………………………………….. 28
Corruption ………………………………………………………………………………… 29
Defense …………………………………………………………………………………….. 31
Democracy ………………………………………………………………………………… 32
Due process ……………………………………………………………………………….. 34
Economics …………………………………………………………………………………. 35
Electoral college …………………………………………………………………………. 36
Emergency powers ……………………………………………………………………… 37
Equality / inequality …………………………………………………………………… 39
Eternal vigilance against usurpation ……………………………………………. 40
Ex post facto laws ………………………………………………………………………. 44
Example for world ……………………………………………………………………… 45
Executive Branch, the nature of …………………………………………………… 46
Faction ……………………………………………………………………………………… 50
Federal/national nature of U. S. government ………………………………… 54
Federations/federal governments; nature of …………………………………. 62
Foreign intrusions ………………………………………………………………………. 63
Future taken into consideration …………………………………………………… 64
General Welfare' not blank check …………………………………………………. 66
Government for the benefit of those who govern ……………………………. 68
Gridlock desirable ……………………………………………………………………….. 70
Human nature …………………………………………………………………………….. 72
Impeachment ……………………………………………………………………………… 77
Judiciary; nature of the ……………………………………………………………….. 79
Jurisdiction of federal government limited to enumerated objects …… 85
Law and equity ……………………………………………………………………………. 93
Laws must be executed ………………………………………………………………… 95
Laws must be few, understandable, and stable ………………………………. 96
Laws; various types of …………………………………………………………………. 98
Legislature; Nature of the ………………………………………………………….. 102
Legislature not to accord themselves privileges ……………………………. 106
Limited jurisdiction of the federal/national government ………………. 108
Maxims …………………………………………………………………………………….. 116
Militia ………………………………………………………………………………………. 123
Minority rights ………………………………………………………………………….. 133
Miscellaneous……………………………………………………………………………. 135
Monetary system ………………………………………………………………………. 146
National concerns sacrificed to local interests (pork barreling) ……… 147
Novelty of the Constitution ………………………………………………………… 148
Paper money …………………………………………………………………………….. 149
Parchment barriers insufficient …………………………………………………… 151
Part-time legislature ………………………………………………………………….. 152
People – the ultimate source of authority………………………………………. 153
People must protect themselves from the government ………………….. 158
Policy changes …………………………………………………………………………… 165
Property……………………………………………………………………………………. 167
Purpose of government ……………………………………………………………… 169
Qualifications for office ……………………………………………………………… 171
Ratification; Method and significance of ……………………………………… 172
Rebellion ………………………………………………………………………………….. 173
Representatives to control purse strings ……………………………………… 175
Representatives to know the will of constituents ………………………….. 176
Republican form; ingredients of …………………………………………………. 177
Republics require enlightened citizenry ………………………………………. 182
Respectability abroad ………………………………………………………………… 184
Rights given up upon joining society …………………………………………… 185
Seat of government – exclusive legislation over …………………………….. 186
Senate; Nature of the …………………………………………………………………. 188
Slavery ……………………………………………………………………………………… 189
Standing armies ………………………………………………………………………… 190
State governments need voice in federal/national government ……… 203
States' rights …………………………………………………………………………….. 204
States to guard against encroachments of federal government ………. 207
Suffrage; voters qualifications …………………………………………………….. 214
Suing a sovereign ………………………………………………………………………. 215
Taxes ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 216
Term limits ………………………………………………………………………………. 220
Titles of nobility ………………………………………………………………………… 221
Treaties ……………………………………………………………………………………. 222
Usurpation ……………………………………………………………………………….. 224
Veto power ……………………………………………………………………………….. 235
War ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 237
Appendix 1- The Constitution …………………………………………………….. 240
Appendix 2 – The Federalist Papers – Links …………………………………. 256
Appendix 3 – Chronology of the Federalist Papers ………………………… 262
©2012 – The Federalist Papers Project
www.thefederalistpapers.org
10/03/2012
