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Quotes by James Madison

James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836), an American statesman, political theorist, party leader and fourth President of the United States of America (1809–1817), was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States. Considered to be the "Father of the Constitution," Madison played the central role in designing the 1787 document and promoting its ratification. In 1788, he wrote over a third of the Federalist Papers, still the most influential commentary on the Constitution. As a leader in the first Congresses, he drafted many basic laws and was responsible for the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and thus is also known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights." As a political theorist, Madison advanced the theory of republicanism. His Madison's most distinctive belief was that the new republic needed checks and balances to limit the powers of special interests, which Madison called factions.[2] He believed very strongly that the new nation should fight against aristocracy and corruption (especially of British origin), and was deeply committed to creating mechanisms that would ensure Republicanism in the United States]].[3]

Freedom of Religion is Absolute

Thu, 10/13/2011 - 10:13am — DaveL

"There is not a shadow of right in the general government to intermeddle in religion. Its least interference with it would be a most flagrant usurpation."

— James Madison

On Separation of Powers

Sun, 12/05/2010 - 9:31pm — DaveL

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.

— James Madison

Democracies versus Republics

Sun, 12/05/2010 - 7:40pm — DaveL

Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.

A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and promises the cure for which we are seeking. Let us examine the points in which it varies from pure democracy, and we shall comprehend both the nature of the cure and the efficacy which it must derive from the Union.

— James Madison

Need for virtue in community

Sun, 12/05/2010 - 6:02pm — DaveL

Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks-no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea, if there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them.

— James Madison

law applies to themselves

Thu, 01/21/2010 - 9:38am — DaveL

"... that they can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of the society... without which every government degenerates into tyranny."

— James Madison

Federalist No. 57

Federal Government powers few and defined

Wed, 12/30/2009 - 10:12pm — DaveL

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...

The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security.

— James Madison

The Federalist No. 45, January 26 1788