James MadisonJames Madison, (1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President

James Madison Quote

“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 former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce.”

James MadisonJames Madison
~ James Madison

Federalist No. 45

Ratings and Comments


GUSTAVO, ATLANTA

UNFORTUNATELY THE COMMERCE CLAUSE TURNED EVERYTHING UP SIDE DOWN.

jim k, austin

After "foreign commerce" our government has added ,"and everything else under the sun".

Mike, Norwalk

GUSTAVO, to make your statement completely accurate, it would have to be added; the unconstitutional and enforced unlawful interpretation of THE COMMERCE. . . On the face alone of Madison's above statement, the vast majority of what has infested this land should be exposed as unconstitutional. The ever transgressing non-foundational stare decisis of the statist theocracy promotes such tyranny and despotism as is now in toto contrary to the founder's intent, writings (including the Constitution), and eternity (natural law).

J Carlton, Calgary

We've sure come a long way from this statement...from a Republic of Liberty and Freedom to a Welfare / Warfare State of Imperialism. And speaking of Commerce...if the Taliban had flooded the US economy with counterfeit money as the White House has done...it would be considered an act of war.

Elisabeth, Astoria, NY

Wasn't that clear enough? The Founding Fathers turned dictatorship and communism altogether upside down.

E Archer, NYC

So what happened?!!

Anon
  • Reply
Anon    3/23/10
B, Arandom City

Awesome quote.I am doing "We the People" at school and this really helped tie it together.

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