The Federalist No. 46

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The Federalist No. 46 is an essay by James Madison that argues for the compatibility of state and federal governments and emphasizes the ultimate authority of the people in the American constitutional system.


Statements (45)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Federalist Paper
political essay
alternateTitle Federalist No. 46
Federalist Paper No. 46
argues compatibility of state and federal governments
federal usurpations can be resisted by states and the people
state governments will generally have more influence over the people than the federal government
ultimate authority resides in the people
author James Madison
citedBy U.S. political theorists
constitutional historians
legal scholars
countryOfOrigin United States
discusses division of loyalty between state and federal governments
means by which states can oppose federal encroachments
public opinion as a restraint on government
relative military power of the people and the federal government
historicalContext debate over ratification of the U.S. Constitution
historicalSignificance clarifies Madison’s view of federalism
influences understanding of balance between state and federal authority
intendedAudience voters of New York
language English
mainTopic American federalism
checks on federal power
distribution of power in the U.S. Constitution
militia and armed citizenry as a check on standing armies
relationship between state and federal governments
role of the people in the American constitutional system
state governments as a counterweight to the federal government
originalPublicationMedium New York newspaper
partOf The Federalist Papers
philosophicalBasis popular sovereignty
republicanism
positionOnFederalPower supports strong but limited federal government
positionOnStatePower supports significant residual powers for state governments
publicationCity New York City
publicationDate 1788
relatedDocument The Federalist No. 10
The Federalist No. 45
The Federalist No. 51
United States Constitution
seriesNumber 46
usedIn constitutional law scholarship
debates over states’ rights
interpretations of the Second Amendment

Referenced by (4)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
The Federalist No. 46 ("Federalist No. 46")
The Federalist No. 46 ("Federalist Paper No. 46")
alternateTitle
The Federalist No. 45
followedBy
The Federalist No. 44
inCollectionWith

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