The Federalist Papers

The Federalist, commonly referred to as the Federalist Papers, is a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison between October 1787 and May 1788. The essays were published anonymously, under the pen name "Publius," in various New York state newspapers of the time.

The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. In lobbying for adoption of the Constitution over the existing Articles of Confederation, the essays explain particular provisions of the Constitution in detail. For this reason, and because Hamilton and Madison were each members of the Constitutional Convention, the Federalist Papers are often used today to help interpret the intentions of those drafting the Constitution.

The Federalist Papers were published primarily in two New York state newspapers: The New York Packet and The Independent Journal. They were reprinted in other newspapers in New York state and in several cities in other states. A bound edition, with revisions and corrections by Hamilton, was published in 1788 by printers J. and A. McLean. An edition published by printer Jacob Gideon in 1818, with revisions and corrections by Madison, was the first to identify each essay by its author's name. Because of its publishing history, the assignment of authorship, numbering, and exact wording may vary with different editions of The Federalist.

The electronic text of The Federalist used here was compiled for Project Gutenberg by scholars who drew on many available versions of the papers.

One printed edition of the text is The Federalist, edited by Jacob E. Cooke (Middletown, Conn., Wesleyan University Press, 1961). Cooke's introduction provides background information on the printing history of The Federalist; the information provided above comes in part from his work.

This web-friendly presentation of the original text of the Federalist Papers (also known as The Federalist) was obtained from the e-text archives of Project Gutenberg. Any irregularities with regard to grammar, syntax, spelling, or punctuation are as they exist in the original e-text archives.

Table of Contents

No. Title Author Publication Date
1. General Introduction Hamilton For the Independent Journal October 27, 1787
2. Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence Jay For the Independent Journal October 31, 1787
3. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence Jay For the Independent Journal November 3, 1787
4. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence Jay For the Independent Journal November 7, 1787
5. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence Jay For the Independent Journal November 10, 1787
6. Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States Hamilton For the Independent Journal November 14, 1787
7. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States Hamilton For the Independent Journal November 15, 1787
8. The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States Hamilton From the New York Packet November 20, 1787
9. The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection Hamilton For the Independent Journal November 21, 1787
10. The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection Madison Frm the New York Packet November 22, 1787
11. The Utility of the Union in Respect to Commercial Relations and a Navy Hamilton For the Independent Journal  November 24, 1787
12. The Utility of the Union in Respect to Revenue Hamilton From the New York Packet November 27, 1787
13. Advantage of the Union in Respect to Economy in Government Hamilton For the Independent Journal November 28, 1787
14. Objections to the Proposed Constitution from Extent of Territory Answered Madison From the New York Packet November 30, 1787
15. The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union Hamilton For the Independent Journal December 1, 1787
16. The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union Hamilton From the New York Packet December 4, 1787
17. The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union Hamilton For the Independent Journal December 5, 1787
18. The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union Hamilton and Madison For the Independent Journal December 7, 1787
19. The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union Hamilton and Madison For the Independent Journal December 8, 1787
20. The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union Hamilton and Madison From the New York Packet December 11, 1787
21. Other Defects of the Present Confederation Hamilton For the Independent Journal December 12, 1787
22. The Same Subject Continued: Other Defects of the Present Confederation Hamilton From the New York Packet December 14, 1787
23. The Necessity of a Government as Energetic as the One Proposed to the Preservation of the Union Hamilton From the New York Packet December 18, 1787
24. The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered Hamilton For the Independent Journal December 19, 1787
25. The Same Subject Continued: The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered Hamilton From the New York Packet December 21, 1787
26. The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered Hamilton For the Independent Journal December 22, 1787
27. The Same Subject Continued: The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered Hamilton From the New York Packet December 25, 1787
28. The Same Subject Continued: The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered Hamilton For the Independent Journal December 26, 1787
29. Concerning the Militia Hamilton From the Daily Advertiser January 9, 1788
30. Concerning the General Power of Taxation Hamilton From the New York Packet December 28, 1787
31. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Power of Taxation Hamilton From the New York Packet January 1, 1788
32. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Power of Taxation Hamilton From the Daily Advertiser January 2, 1788
33. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Power of Taxation Hamilton From the Daily Advertiser January 2, 1788
34. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Power of Taxation Hamilton From the New York Packet January 5, 1788
35. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Power of Taxation Hamilton For the Independent Journal January 5, 1788
36. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Power of Taxation Hamilton From the New York Packet January 8, 1788
37. Concerning the Difficulties of the Convention in Devising a Proper Form of Government Madison From the Daily Advertiser January 11, 1788
38. Incoherence of the Objections to the New Plan Exposed Madison From the New York Packet January 12, 1788
39. Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles Madison For the Independent Journal January 18, 1788
40. The Powers of the Convention to Form a Mixed Government Examined and Sustained Madison From the New York Packet January 18, 1788
41. General View of the Powers Conferred by the Constitution Madison For the Independent Journal January 19, 1788
42. The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered Madison From the New York Packet January 22, 1788
43. The Same Subject Continued: The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered Madison For the Independent Journal January 23, 1788
44. Restrictions on the Authority of the Several States Madison From the New York Packet January 25, 1788
45. The Alleged Danger From the Powers of the Union to the State Governments Considered Madison For the Independent Journal January 26, 1788
46. The Influence of the State and Federal Governments Compared Madison From the New York Packet January 29, 1788
47. The Particular Structure of the New Government and Distribution of Power Among Its Different Parts Madison From the New York Packet January 30, 1788
48. These Departments Should Not Be So Far Separated as to Have No Constitutional Control Over Each Other Madison From the New York Packet February 1, 1788
49. Method of Guarding Against the Encroachments of Any One Department of Government by Appealing to the People Through a Convention Hamilton or Madison From the New York Packet February 2, 1788
50. Periodic Appeals to the People Considered Hamilton or Madison From the New York Packet February 5, 1788
51. The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments Hamilton or Madison From the New York Packet February 6, 1788
52. The House of Representatives Hamilton or Madison From the New York Packet February 8, 1788
53. The Same Subject Continued: The House of Representatives Hamilton or Madison From the New York Packet February 9, 1788
54. The Apportionment of Members Among States Hamilton or Madison From the New York Packet February 12, 1788
55. The Total Number of the House of Representatives Hamilton or Madison From the New York Packet February 13, 1788
56. The Same Subject Continued: The Total Number of the House of Representatives Hamilton or Madison From the New York Packet February 16, 1788
57. The Alleged Tendency of the Plan to Elevate the Few at the Expense of the Many Considered in Connection with Representation Hamilton or Madison From the New York Packet February 19, 1788
58. Objection that the Number of Members Will Not Be Augmented as the Progress of Population Demands Considered Madison -- February 20, 1788
59. Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members Hamilton From the New York Packet February 22, 1788
60. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members Hamilton From the New York Packet February 23, 1788
61. The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members Hamilton From the New York Packet February 26, 1788
62. The Senate Hamilton or Madison For the Independent Journal February 27, 1788
63. The Senate Continued Hamilton or Madison For the Independent Journal March 1, 1788
64. The Powers of the Senate Jay From the New York Packet March 5, 1788
65. The Powers of the Senate Continued Hamilton From the New York Packet March 7, 1788
66. Objections to the Power of the Senate To Set as a Court for Impeachments Further Considered Hamilton From the New York Packet March 8, 1788
67. The Executive Department Hamilton From the New York Packet March 11, 1788
68. The Mode of Electing the President Hamilton From the New York Packet March 12, 1788
69. The Real Character of the Executive Hamilton From the New York Packet March 14, 1788
70. The Executive Department Further Considered Hamilton From the New York Packet March 15, 1788
71. The Duration in Office of the Executive Hamilton From the New York Packet March 18, 1788
72. The Same Subject Continued, and Re-Eligibility of the Executive Considered Hamilton From the New York Packet March 19, 1788
73. The Provision for Support of the Executive, and the Veto Power Hamilton From the New York Packet March 21, 1788
74. The Command of the Military and Naval Forces, and the Pardoning Power of the Executive Hamilton From the New York Packet March 25, 1788
75. The Treaty Making Power of the Executive Hamilton For the Independent Journal March 26, 1788
76. The Appointing Power of the Executive Hamilton From the New York Packet April 1, 1788
77. The Appointing Power Continued and Other Powers of the Executive Considered Hamilton From the New York Packet April 2, 1788
78. The Judiciary Department Hamilton From McLEAN's Edition, New York June 14, 1788
79. The Judiciary Continued Hamilton From McLEAN's Edition, New York June 18, 1788
80. The Powers of the Judiciary Hamilton From McLEAN's Edition, New York June 21, 1788
81. The Judiciary Continued, and the Distribution of Judicial Authority Hamilton From McLEAN's Edition June 25, 1788
82. The Judiciary Continued Hamilton From McLEAN's Edition July 2, 1788
83. The Judiciary Continued in Relation to Trial by Jury Hamilton From McLEAN's Edition July 5, 1788
84. Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and Answered Hamilton From McLEAN's Edition July 16, 1788
85. Concluding Remarks Hamilton From McLEAN's Edition August 13, 1788
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