Commentary

• The Philosophy of the American Constitution: A Reinterpretation of the Intentions of the Founding Fathers

  - Eidelberg, Paul. The Philosophy of the American Constitution: A Reinterpretation of the Intentions of the Founding Fathers. New York: Free Press, 1968.

• The Political Theory of the Federalist

  - Epstein, David F., The Political Theory of the Federalist. Chicago: U of Chicago Press, 1984.
  In The Political Theory of  “The Federalist,” David F. Epstein offers a guide to the fundamental principles of American government as they were understood by the framers of the Constitution. Epstein here demonstrates the remarkable depth and clarity… More

• Saving the Revolution edited by Charles Kesler

  - Kesler, Charles, editor. Saving the Revolution: The Federalist Papers and the American Founding. New York: Free Press, 1987.
  A group of preeminent political and constitutional scholars, including Edward Banfield and William Kristol, offer fresh perspectives on The Federalist Papers’ ideals, arguments, and enduring effects on American political life.

• Federalism: Evaluating the Founders’ Design

  - McConnell, Michael W. “Federalism: Evaluating the Founders’ Design.” The University of Chicago Law Review 54, no. 4 (October 1, 1987): 1484–1512.

• The Federalist

  - Diamond, Martin.  "The Federalist."  History of Political Philosophy (Third Edition).  Edited by Leo Strauss and Joseph Cropsey.  University of Chicago Press, 1987.
  Excerpt: Publius is aware that his scheme involves an enormous reliance on the ceaseless striving after immediate private gains; the commercial life must be made honorable and universally practiced.  Publius counts on a portion of patriotism and wisdom in… More

• Separated and Balanced Constitution, The

  - Thurow, Glen E. “Separated and Balanced Constitution, The.” Texas Tech Law Review 21 (1990): 2389.

• Taming the Prince: The Ambivalence of Modern Executive Power

  - Mansfield, Harvey Claflin. Taming the Prince: The Ambivalence of Modern Executive Power. New York: Free Press, 1989
  This survey of Western political thought ranges from Aristotle to “The Federalist Papers”, showing how the doctrine of executive power arose and how it has developed to the present day. Although there were various “proto-executives”,… More

• The Federalist: Design for a Constitutional Republic

  - Carey, George Wescott. The Federalist: Design for a Constitutional Republic. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1989.

• Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution

  - Rakove, Jack N. Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1996.

• The Noblest Minds

  - McNamara, Peter. The Noblest Minds: Fame, Honor, and the American Founding. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1999.
  Ever since Douglass Adair convincingly demonstrated that a love of fame was central to the American founding, political scientists and historians have started to view the founders and their acts in a new light. In The Noblest Minds, ten distinguished scholars… More

• Explaining America: The Federalist

  - Wills, Garry. Explaining America: The Federalist. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1981.

• The Federalist Papers: A Commentary: “the Baton Rouge Lectures”

  - Allen, W. B., and Kevin A. Cloonan. The Federalist Papers: A Commentary: "the Baton Rouge Lectures". New York: P. Lang, 2000.
  This book tells the story of The Federalist Papers as an accessible approach to the principles of the United States government. When looking at The Federalist Papers or the documents of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, one realizes that the writers of… More

• As Far as Republican Principles Will Admit: Essays by Martin Diamond

  - Diamond, Martin. As Far as Republican Principles Will Admit: Essays by Martin Diamond. Edited by William Schambra. Washington, DC: AEI Press, 1992.
  Essays by one of the preeminent theorists of the American Founding. Of particular interest to students of the Federalist are essays entitled, “Ethics and Politics: the American Way,” “Democracy and the Federalist: A Reconsideration of the… More