Anti federalist papers3/13/2023 ![]() ![]() They are a test for different governmental systems and the geopolitical-territorial arrangements upon which they rest (Horton 2020). Pandemics are by definition global in character and spread from place to place through travel and community spread. “Disasters may just happen, but catastrophes are made” (Agnew 2013, 455). Keywords: anti-federalism, federalism, pandemic. The pandemic has exposed the distortion of the once well-established polyphonic practices of historic US federalism by a now institutionalized dualist vision of federalism that has sadly become the leitmotif of failed US governance in the pandemic. The recent efflorescence of anti-federalist ideology has roots going back to the 1980s. But rather than command and coordination across tiers of government, the states have been left to cope as best they can without much of anything in terms of coherent and consistent national/federal leadership. Ordinarily, one would think that the federal government would be empowered by a self-defined “nationalist” or right-wing populist in the White House. More specifically, the role of the federal government in fashioning nationwide policies across a range of areas, including public health, has been crippled by an anti-federalist ideology and the institutional inertia it has created. Yet more importantly this failure has been of the US governmental system. Much of the poor response and outcome has been ascribed to President Trump’s personal failure. “I thought each professor brought to class a different flavor of historical stories and interesting anecdotes from their research over the years,” said Maruna.The US federal government has been widely criticized for its response to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic. Along with the opinions of their peers, the students felt the sometimes contrasting opinions of Professors Lazarus and Forte offered insight into how political and legal backgrounds can foster differing legal viewpoints. The class discussed issues including the separation of powers, the role of the States, executive power, the role of the Judiciary, political accountability, the concept of “energetic” but limited government, delegated powers, and the nature of liberty and rights. “One of the biggest takeaways I had was how the Federalist Papers relate to our lives today, and how in some respects, their principles came to fruition, while in other aspects the Anti-federalists were proven correct ” said Madilyn Maruna, a C|M|LAW student who enjoyed the course.Įach seminar featured an explanatory lecture followed by legal-based discussion around prepared questions for each of the essays. During the class, students read each of the 85 essays as well as the Articles of Confederation, Constitution and the Anti-Federalist Essays of Brutus. Over a period of ten months during the time of debate and ratification of the Constitution in 1787-1788, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay collectively wrote and published 85 essays that would become known as The Federalist Papers. ![]() The course, co-taught by constitutional law experts Professors David Forte and Stephen Lazarus, is one of only a handful of law school courses focused on the Federalist Papers throughout the U.S. Cleveland-Marshall College of Law students had the opportunity to explore the legal significance of one of the United States’ oldest and most significant works of legal interpretation, political theory, and astute advocacy during a new course on the Federalist Papers this spring.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |