The Federalist Papers is a collection of eighteenth-century political propaganda essays written to convince the people to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America. Written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison anonymously under the pseudonym of Publius, the name of a founder and savior of the republic of Rome. The consistency of the writing of the three under the penname is remarkable, so much so that I do not care to distinguish who wrote which essay (though there is much scholarly debate.) It is not just a history lesson, but also a lesson in psychology and political affairs. These essays changed the course of human history, and are some of the best writing I have ever read. It made me fall in love with America with every page (I already loved America a lot.) This should be required reading for all elected officials in our national government. This collection of essays demonstrably and categorically outlines republican government, man, and the U.S. Constitution.

My biggest pet peeve in the world is when I hear about the “democracy of America.” Let me be very clear, America is not a democracy, and never was a democracy. America is a democratic republic, huge difference. This allows for the public to choose the people who make choices for them rather than having a winner takes all strategy. The real benefit of this is that the wolves and dogs have to fight over who gets the sheep. It also means that major changes in policy aren’t enacted that the public will soon regret just because the public is embroiled over a recent controversy. (Or at least that is what is supposed to happen.)

The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens and greater sphere of country over which the latter may be extended (No. 10)

Why do people think America is a democracy? Because no one seems to have read the Constitution, ever; and the media and the public all shout to the heavens of the beauty of democracy. Democracy is fine, but if we want to live there we need to change the Constitution. The main reason the U.S. is a republic is to prevent any one man or woman to become too powerful in government. Because as Publius says “Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm (No. 10.)” Sadly many of the precautions set up in the Constitution to prevent the accumulation of powers have been slowly degraded over time.

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions (No. 51.)

The United States was designed to protect the interests of free men, in the best way the founders knew how, by creating a republic. They did an admirable job. The founders took into account the great history of government, and their knowledge of the human condition to create a set of laws that helped shape the world. They understood the virtues and vices of men, and protected posterity accordingly.

As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other; and the former will be objects to which the latter will attach themselves. The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of propriety originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests (No. 10.)

I don’t believe that any man or woman alive truly believes that they are perfect. Much less that the people they elect to positions of power are perfect. Human nature is a beautiful thing; it cannot be contained, constrained, or ordained. However, men have decided that governments are necessary to provide guidance and power over others in the interest of the common good. This is why we need a set of laws like the Constitution.

But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary (No. 51)

The U.S. Constitution is one of the finest pieces of writing ever created. I admit it, I love America, and refuse to apologize for it in any way. I may not like certain politicians, or actions that the government has taken, but I believe in the promise of America. This promise is the hallowed words inscribed and agreed on over 200 years ago. They are the words that allowed for prosperity to encompass the world. They are words that brought freedom to more countries and peoples than the world has probably ever seen. Many throughout the world may hate America, but we have given those people the right to hate us. It is their right as free men and women.

The framers of the Constitution understood that the best kind of government is the government that governs the least, and they designed the federal government the best they could under this framework.

The powers delegated to the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign

commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects, which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State (No. 45.)

We as a nation have not always lived up to the promises of the Constitution. The powers of the federal government have certainly increased over time, some would argue unbearably so. Yet the beauty of America still shines through, because we have a foundation of stone. The Constitution of the U.S. is a beautiful piece of writing, and enlightening in its own right. I recommend everyone read it before they try to tackle the Federalist Papers, but if anyone reads both, I imagine they would find new pride and love towards the United States of America. So please read the Constitution, remind yourself the frailties of human nature, and remember the Republic for which we stand.