The Federalist Project

A full, numerically ordered list of essays I’ve modernized is at the bottom of this page.

Or see my suggested reading plan, with links to the essays I’ve modernized.

Why Update The Federalist

A few years ago, I left my long-time role as a pastor to begin law school. What led me there was a growing fascination with our nation’s legal order—especially its constitutional order. The more I’ve studied our system of ordered liberty,* the more I’ve come to love it. It is not perfect. None of the Founders thought it was. But I believe it’s good—even beautiful.

I want more people to see why the Founders created the constitutional order they did—and how it’s supposed to work. The best place to start, in my view, is The Federalist—also known as The Federalist Papers. This collection of 85 essays, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in 1787–88, was meant to persuade New Yorkers to support the new Constitution. At the time, the nation was struggling under the weak Articles of Confederation, and these essays—published under the pseudonym Publius—laid out the case for a stronger, more effective national government.

These essays were written for everyday readers, but they’re tough to get through today because of the changes our grammar and language have undergone. That barrier keeps a lot of people from engaging with this work, which is why I’m working on a modernization.

I’m not trying to tamper with the authors’ rhetoric. It’s charming and compelling once you get into it. Where their arguments are complex, I’ve tried to preserve that complexity rather than oversimplify. That means these may still be tough to understand in places. I’ve added some footnotes to help, especially where it might be useful to fill in historical details.  My goal is to remove the unnecessary language obstacles while keeping the substance intact. I’m planning to work through the most important essays over time to make them more accessible.

To Readers:

As you read, I’d love to hear from you. Have questions? Are there sections that still don’t make sense—or arguments you disagree with? Reach out. I’d love to discuss it.

To Scholars:

My aim is to modernize the grammar and language of The Federalist while preserving the authors’ core message and rhetorical style. As with any translation, this requires some interpretation.

  • Have I unintentionally distorted or misrepresented the authors’ arguments anywhere?
  • Are there places where the language could be clearer without losing the original meaning? 

I’d welcome your feedback. Consider these an early draft open to crowd-sourced revision. Feel free to email me with comments or suggestions.

And if you’ve done any modernizations of The Federalist yourself, I’d love to see them!

* “Ordered liberty” is a concept from the Founding era that emphasizes the balance between individual freedom and the rule of law. It’s the idea that liberty flourishes best within a framework of laws that protect both personal rights and social order.

A Suggested Reading Plan

(note that titles are mine, not from the original)

Part I — The Need for Union

The Foundations and Necessity of Union

How a Large Republic Can Survive Conflict

Part II — Human Nature and the Need for Structure

Part III — Building a Government That Preserves Liberty

Defining Republican Government and Federal Power

  • No. 39 – Defining Republican Government
  • No. 42 – Powers Granted to the Federal Government to Secure Peace
  • No. 44 – Constitutional Restrictions on States
  • No. 45 – The Division of Power Between State and Federal Governments

Designing the Separation of Powers

  • No. 47 – The Separation of Powers Doctrine
  • No. 49 – The Role of Public Opinion and Constitutional Stability
  • No. 50 – The Limits of Periodic Appeals to the People
  • No. 48 – Balancing Legislative Power

Constructing the Legislative Branch

  • No. 52 – The House of Representatives
  • No. 53 – Frequency of Elections
  • No. 62 – The Senate’s Structure and Role
  • No. 63 – The Senate’s Function as a Check on Popular Passions

Empowering the Executive

Empowering the Judiciary

  • No. 78 – The Role and Independence of the Judiciary
  • No. 80 – The Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
  • No. 81 – The Structure of the Judiciary and Its Relation to the States

Liberty through Constitutional Structure

  • No. 84 – Against the Need for a Bill of Rights

Sustaining the Constitutional System

  • No. 85 – Concluding Remarks on the Constitution’s Promise and Flexibility

Now Published

(note that titles are mine, not from the original)