James Madison’s lasting influence and prescience are undeniable. His most widely recognized historical contributions include his roles as chief architect of the Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention, “stenographer in chief” of its proceedings, major contributor to the Federalist Papers, and 4th President of the United States. But Madison also set the bounds of debates on issues that are undeniably relevant to modern American politics, including American national identity and the development and dangers of political parties.
The contributions to this symposium examine the historical contributions of Madison’s political thought and invite a reexamination of its contemporary value. Venturing outside of Madison’s highlight reel, they pose questions that reframe his influence while mapping connections to the insights he provides to the landscape of modern American politics.
Toward these goals, Colleen A. Sheehan delivers a Madisonian argument for free speech in the modern age. Lee Ward engages in a deep dive into Madison’s reflections on federalism in the months prior to the Constitutional Convention. Sanford Levinson argues that Madison was not the “father of the Constitution” and calls for a DNA test on the true “paternity” of the document. Alan Gibson responds that this question is needlessly patriarchal, while also asserting that Madison was, to be sure, uniquely central to the constitutional moment of 1786-1789. Levinson responds in kind to Gibson with an exploration of the contours of their agreements and disagreements.
Additionally, Cary Federman delivers an essay on Madison’s vision for a free press in a republic. Michael Zuckert explores a Madisonian perspective on slavery. Lynn Uzzell dives into the nature and interpretation of Madison’s extensive note-taking and documentation while Gregory Spindler explores whether Madison was a strict constructionist. Finally, Kevin Cherry frames Madison’s Federalist essays as Aristotelian political education.
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James Madison’s Federalist Essays as Aristotelian Political Education
In the words of Marvin Meyers, “all roads lead to Federalist 10,” the essay in which Madison famously argues that the extended republic of the United States will control the effects of factions: By taking in a diversity of interests, opinions, and passions, it is less likely any one of them will be able to […]
Was Madison a Strict Constructionist?
As members of the First Congress convened in early April 1789 to begin the process of implementing the Constitution, James Madison knew better than anyone the challenges that lay before them as they attempted to put into effect an innovative system of government based on a text that had different meanings to different people: “We […]
James Madison on a Free Press in a Republican Government
The famous case of New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) involved an advertisement, written by civil rights advocates in Montgomery, Alabama and published by the New York Times, criticizing the Montgomery police department for its handling of civil rights issues. The advertisement did not mention Montgomery’s police commissioner, Lester Bruce (L.B.) Sullivan. Nevertheless, Sullivan rightly […]
Madison’s Offering at Clio’s Altar
James Madison knew that he was living through an important epoch in human history. In November of 1782, he began keeping a congressional diary. He did not attempt to record everything that took place in Congress, but instead jotted down events that he suspected would be of interest to posterity and that he knew would […]
Slavery and the Constitution in Madisonian Perspective
There is no need to rehearse in detail the various debates over the Founders and slavery that have roiled academic and political waters since the mid-twentieth century. Suffice it to say that the main antagonists can plausibly be called Neo-Garrisonians and Neo-Lincolnians, after William Lloyd Garrison, the famous abolitionist, and Abraham Lincoln. Today these two […]
A Tentative “Last Word” on James Madison as Father of the Constitution
Professor Gibson has offered me the opportunity have the “last word” in our debate about James Madison, and I am glad to accept. First, though, I want to express my deepest appreciation for the essay he wrote—I think roughly twice as long as my own!—in response to my remarks about Madison’s “fatherhood” of the Constitution. […]
Madison and the Constitution: A Reply to Levinson
In his contribution to this symposium, Sanford Levinson joins a list of scholars denying James Madison the title “Father of the Constitution” and challenging, in their estimation, exaggerated claims about his influence in the constitutional moment of 1786 to 1789. For his part, Professor Levinson emphasizes the radical character of Madison’s universal veto of state […]
It’s Time for a DNA Test to Determine Paternity of the Constitution
One of the hoariest cliches of American constitutional history is that James Madison is the “father of the Constitution.” Wikipedia, an authoritative source on conventional wisdom, states that “[h]e is hailed as the ‘Father of the Constitution’ for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the United States Bill of Rights.” […]
Making Individuals Citizens
Much has changed since Washington, Madison, Hamilton, Franklin, and the Framers met in the Pennsylvania State House in the summer of 1787 to draft the Constitution of the United States. The expanse of the country has increased substantially, the population has also grown considerably, from about 3.9 million to over 300 million; and discoveries in […]
