Anti-Federalist Paper Series-Ep. 10: The Powers of the New Government: Brutus V, Agrippa VII and Federalist 45

Power.  Should it rest with the states or with the federal government?  The Articles of Confederation did an incomplete job in assigning powers such as commerce and taxation so The Founders held a Constitutional Convention to address these concerns.  Brutus and Agrippa had concerns that the "common defense and general welfare" clause in the new constitution was too broad.  Madison responded to this concern in Federalist 45 that the power of the general government are few and defined while the power to the states are many and undefined.  Brutus and Agrippa thought a too strong general government would suck away power from the states while Madison felt a union with too weak a government could crumble. What do you think?  Join our panel and the ever-informative Professor Gordon Lloyd for this week's discussion that has profound relevance even today.