The legislative department is everywhere extending the sphere of its activity and drawing all power into its impetuous vortex. — James Madison Copy Share Image
I consider the difference between a system founded on the legislatures only, and one founded on the people, to be the true… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The Federal Constitution forms a happy combination in this respect; the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The people shall not be restrained from peacefully assembling and consulting for their common good, nor from applying to the legislature by… — James Madison Copy Share Image
[I]t is more convenient to prevent the passage of a law, than to declare it void after it has passed. — James Madison Copy Share Image
The constitution supposes, what the History of all Governments demonstrates, that the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war,… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The power to declare war, including the power of judging the causes of war, is fully and exclusively vested in the legislature. — James Madison Copy Share Image
[Regarding legislative assemblies,] the number ought at most to be kept within a certain limit, in order to avoid the confusion and… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The members of the legislative department . . . are numerous. They are distributed and dwell among the people at large. Their… — James Madison Copy Share Image
... the State Legislatures will jealously and closely watch the operations of this Government, and be able to resist with more effect… — James Madison Copy Share Image
In no part of the Constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war… — James Madison Copy Share Image
I am unable to conceive that the state legislatures which must feel so many motives to watch, and which possess so many… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The appointment of senators by the state legislatures . . . is recommended by the double advantage of favoring a select appointment,… — James Madison Copy Share Image
In republican government the legislative authority necessarily predominates. The remedy for this . . . is to divide the legislature into different… — James Madison Copy Share Image
If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war [and] the power of raising… — James Madison Copy Share Image
there ought always to be a constitutional method of giving efficacy to constitutional provisions. What for instance would avail restrictions on the… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The liberal appropriations made by the legislature of Kentucky for a general system of education cannot be too much applauded . .… — James Madison Copy Share Image
I own myself the friend to a very free system of commerce, and hold it as a truth, that commercial shackles are… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation and involves the spirit of party and… — James Madison Copy Share Image
I have appealed to our own experience for the truth of what I advance on this subject [that the legislative power is… — James Madison Copy Share Image
One hundred and seventy-three despots would surely be as oppressive as one. — James Madison Copy Share Image
For the same reason that the members of the State legislatures will be unlikely to attach themselves sufficiently to national objects, the… — James Madison Copy Share Image
A local spirit will infallibly prevail much more in the members of Congress than a national spirit will prevail in the legislatures… — James Madison Copy Share Image
[R]efusing or not refusing to execute a law to stamp it with its final character . . . makes the Judiciary department… — James Madison Copy Share Image
If this spirit shall ever be so far debased, as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the legislature, as well as… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The people can never willfully betray their own interests: But they may possibly be betrayed by the representatives of the people; and… — James Madison Copy Share Image
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments… — James Madison Copy Share Image
How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,… — James Madison Copy Share Image
It is certain that every class is interested in [educational] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards their object; and it is therefore essential, that such… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The definition of the right of suffrage is very justly regarded as a fundamental article of republican government. — James Madison Copy Share Image
The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded. — James Madison Copy Share Image
They can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass… — James Madison Copy Share Image
The effect of a representative democracy is to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body… — James Madison Copy Share Image
“... But besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government , there is an evil which ought to be guarded… — James Madison Copy Share Image
![“[I]t is more convenient to prevent the passage of a law, than to declare it void after it has passed.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9e1/james-madison-373_congress_i-t-is-more-convenient-to-prevent-the-pa_477908.jpg)
![“[Regarding legislative assemblies,] the number ought at most to be kept within a certain limit, in order to avoid the confusion and intemperance of a multitude. In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever characters composed, passion never fails to wrest the scepter from reason. Had every…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2e9/james-madison-373_assembly_regarding-legislative-assemblies-the-num_1037098.jpg)
![“The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war [and] the power of raising armies… A delegation of such powers [to the President] would have struck, not only at the fabric of our Constitution, but at the foundation of all well organized and…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1e3/james-madison-373_army_the-constitution-expressly-and-exclusive_277138.jpg)
![“I have appealed to our own experience for the truth of what I advance on this subject [that the legislative power is the predominant power]. Were it necessary to verify this experience by particular proofs, they might be multiplied without end. I might find a witness in every citizen who has…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/90b/james-madison-373_administration_i-have-appealed-to-our-own-experience-fo_82955.jpg)
![“[R]efusing or not refusing to execute a law to stamp it with its final character . . . makes the Judiciary department paramount in fact to the Legislature, which was never intended and can never be proper.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b14/james-madison-373_character_r-efusing-or-not-refusing-to-execute-a-l_2378388.jpg)
![“It is certain that every class is interested in [educational] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country its truest and most durable celebrity.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/964/james-madison-373_certain_it-is-certain-that-every-class-is-intere_22217.jpg)
