The Definitive Work on What Our Constitution Means

This is a work that should have selections as required reading for all students in American high schools. It is difficult to imagine how Constitutional Law would have developed without the Federalist Papers and the Publius team. Fundamental ideas like checks and balances (although the term is never used explicitly) and separation of powers are fully detailed. These essays are an excellent starting point to finding out what it means to be an American.

Although the full plan for the Federalist Papers was never completed (Publius was to compare the US Constitution to the New York State Constitution since the purpose of the essays was to convince New York to ratify - this section was never written), the sections we do have today are an outstanding guide to what the various sections of the Constitution mean. If there was ever a work to tell us what the intent of the founding fathers was, the Federalist Papers has to be it.

Madison's analysis of old republics and democracies provide intriguing arguments for the particular form the American federal system took. Hamilton's legal style of argument from first principles is apparent in the essays about specific powers and justifications for them, and provides a good basis for understanding why each branch of government was assigned various duties.