A 1787 essayist argued that Congress could reach anything it liked through the power to make all laws "necessary and proper," and that the supremacy clause would leave the states as little more than shells. (Paraphrase.) Which side made this argument?

One side of the ratification debate argued that under the Articles of Confederation Congress could not levy taxes, could not regulate trade between the states, and had to beg the states for money it could not compel. Which side pressed this argument?

Anti-Federalists warned that a national government with its own power to tax would grow until the states counted for nothing. In Federalist No. 45, how did Madison answer that charge?

A writer of 1787-88 objected that a single House member speaking for tens of thousands could not know their circumstances, and that so small a body would be filled by the wealthy rather than by farmers and tradesmen. Which side made this argument?

In the Virginia convention of June 1788, Patrick Henry said of the proposed government, "It squints towards monarchy." What was he objecting to?

Anti-Federalists charged that the president would become an elective king. In Federalist No. 69, how did Hamilton answer them?

Federalist No. 10: "Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens." What is Madison arguing?

In Federalist No. 78, Hamilton called the judiciary "beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power," yet defended one power the courts would hold over acts of Congress. Which power?

In Federalist No. 84, Hamilton wrote that bills of rights "are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous." What was the danger he claimed?

In Federalist No. 70, Hamilton opened: "Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government." What arrangement does the essay go on to defend?

Federalist No. 1 asks whether "societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend... on accident and force." What is at stake in the ratification vote?

A Virginian was elected to the Philadelphia convention but refused to attend, and then led the opposition to ratification on the floor of the Virginia convention in June 1788. Who was he?

One Virginia delegate introduced the plan that opened the Philadelphia convention, then refused to sign the finished Constitution, yet spoke and voted for ratification in the Virginia convention of 1788. Who was he?

A Massachusetts delegate at Philadelphia refused to sign the Constitution and published his objections, among them that the document had no bill of rights and that the representation of the people was inadequate. Who was he?

Eighty-five essays appeared under the name Publius in New York newspapers in 1787-88. Two of the three authors wrote the bulk of them; the third contributed only five, mostly on foreign affairs, before illness stopped him. Who was that third author?

Several state conventions ratified only after supporters promised that a list of individual rights would be added by amendment once the new government met. What came of that promise?

Article VII set the condition for putting the Constitution into effect. How many state conventions had to ratify, and which state met that number on June 21, 1788?

New York's convention met at Poughkeepsie in the summer of 1788 with Anti-Federalists holding a clear majority of the delegates when it opened. How did it end?

One of the thirteen states refused to call a ratifying convention for years, held out while the new Congress met and Washington took office, and finally ratified on May 29, 1790, by 34 votes to 32. Which state was it?

Massachusetts ratified on February 6, 1788, by 187 votes to 168, and attached a list of amendments it wanted the first Congress to take up. Why does that vote matter beyond Massachusetts?