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, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution," believed in a system of federalism where power was divided between the national government and the states. He argued that the powers of the national government and the states should be balanced in order to prevent tyranny and protect individual liberties.
Madison believed that the national government should have certain enumerated powers that were necessary for the country to function effectively, such as regulating foreign commerce, coining money, and providing for the common defense. However, he also believed that the states should retain their own powers to govern local affairs and protect the rights of their citizens.
In Federalist No. 45, Madison famously wrote, "The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite." This statement reflects Madison's belief in a limited national government with specific powers, while the states retained their sovereignty and authority over a wide range of issues.
Overall, Madison believed in a system of dual sovereignty where the national government and the states each had their own spheres of authority, and they would check and balance each other to prevent the concentration of power in any one branch or level of government. This system of federalism, as outlined by Madison in the Constitution, has endured for over two centuries and continues to shape the balance of power between the national government and the states in the United States.