Alexander Hamilton

"The Pacificus-Helvidius Debates of 1793-1794" matched Hamilton and Madison in the first chapter of an enduring discussion about the proper roles of the executive and legislative branches in the conduct of American foreign policy. Ignited by President Washington's Neutrality Proclamation of 1793, the debate addressed whether Washington had the authority to declare America neutral, despite an early alliance treaty with France. Hamilton argued that Washington's actions were constitutional and that friction between the two branches was an unavoidable, but not harmful, consequence of the separation of powers. Madison countered that Washington's proclamation would introduce "new principles and new constructions" into the Constitution. While the Pacificus-Helvidius debates did not resolve this ongoing constitutional controversy, they did define the grounds upon which this question was to be examined, to this very day.

"The Pacificus-Helvidius Debates of 1793-1794" matched Hamilton and Madison in the first chapter of an enduring discussion about the proper roles of the executive and legislative branches in the conduct of American foreign policy. Ignited by President Washington's Neutrality Proclamation of 1793, the debate addressed whether Washington had the authority to declare America neutral, despite an early alliance treaty with France. Hamilton argued that Washington's actions were constitutional and that friction between the two branches was an unavoidable, but not harmful, consequence of the separation of powers. Madison countered that Washington's proclamation would introduce "new principles and new constructions" into the Constitution. While the Pacificus-Helvidius debates did not resolve this ongoing constitutional controversy, they did define the grounds upon which this question was to be examined, to this very day.

Die Federalist Papers gehören zu den bedeutendsten Texten der modernen westlichen Demokratie. Die fünfundachtzig Artikel, welche 1787/88 erschienen und die zur Abstimmung anstehende amerikanische Verfassung verteidigten, diskutieren die Fundamente repräsentativer Demokratie und sind gleichsam als Gründungsdokumente heutiger pluralistischer Gesellschaften zu lesen. Ihre Aussagekraft ist von zeitloser Aktualität - sowohl vor dem Hintergrund der Legitimätskrise westlicher Demokratien wie angesichts der weltpolitischen Rolle der Vereinigten Staaten. Barbara Zehnpfennigs vielgerühmte Übersetzung liegt nun erstmals in einer preiswerten Ausgabe vor.

Identifies historical referencesliterary allusions by which the Founders sought to amplify their argumentsconvince their readers, and clarifies important concepts (sovereignty, contract, separation of powers) which influenced their thinking. Pole's annotation beside the text provide deeper understanding of the papers, and its time.