How do the powers of the national government and the powers of the states compare according to James Madison the primary author of the constitution?
James Madison, the primary author of the US Constitution, believed in a balance of power between the national government and the states. He believed that certain powers should be reserved for the federal government, while others should be left to the states.
Madison believed that the federal government should have powers of taxation, regulation of interstate commerce, and defense, which are listed in the US Constitution's Article I, Section 8. He also believed that the federal government should have the power to regulate currency, regulate the postal system, and establish courts.
On the other hand, Madison believed that the states should retain their powers to regulate their own affairs, including issues related to property, criminal law, civil law, and public health and safety.
To ensure this balance of power, Madison drafted the Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which states that powers not delegated to the federal government or prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.