Ratification Debates
Federalism and the 10th Amendment: Tench Coxe Explains Delegated and Reserved Powers
“Independent of the control or interference of the federal government.” That’s how Tench Coxe described the vast majority of power under the Constitution – reserved to the states and completely off-limits to federal authority. Perhaps better than any...
Anti-Federalist Objections: Pennsylvania Dissent Explained
One of the most influential and widely cited anti-federalist papers wasn’t written by a single individual. It was produced by a group of delegates who rejected the Constitution during the Pennsylvania ratifying convention. Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify...
Bill of Rights: Forgotten Role of the 10th Amendment in Its Creation
The Bill of Rights was born from intense battles between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over delegated and reserved powers. This clash not only shaped its contested origins but also left its true purpose misunderstood to this day. 1. Initial Efforts Rejected During...
Repeal the 17th Amendment: The Anti-Federalist Warnings We Must Not Ignore
Repealing the 17th Amendment has become a rallying cry for those seeking to restore federalism. But the Anti-Federalists warned during the ratification debates that structural flaws in the Senate run much deeper than merely the method of election. Corruption,...