Um entendimento de república em O federalista: república antes que democracia

Abstract

The last act of the American Revolution saw the debate on ratification of the 1787 Constitution recognized in history as the Great National Discussion. Once independence was achieved at the end of the war, the internal situation of the Confederacy during the 1780s was interpreted by a group of patriots as critical. With little power, Congress could not influence member states. And to add alarm to the situation, the state legislatures, as a result of the ideals of political freedom of the revolution, were extended with greater popular participation. In 1787, with the desire to act in favor of a strong centralized national government, James Madison made it possible to propose, within the Federal Convention convened in that year, the creation of a new constitution that would replace the Articles of Confederation. After this convention, the task of ratifying the Constitution in each member state followed. This ratification process has produced an extraordinary rhetorical debate involving the pros and cons, with a high number of publications. In the state of New York, Federalist papers were published by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay in support of the Constitution and defend a project of a republic, which can be found in the conceptual arguments of the Federalist authors. Among the conceptual aspects of this project were: the principle of separation of powers , in order to ensure harmony between the three branches of power; the principle of representation of the most talented men to occupy public functions and which is occupied with national interests in order to submit a cosmopolitan and non-localist spirit; the construction of the republic on a large land area with the possibility of expanding and containing the action of factions; the drafting of a federal structure with a national government of enumerated powers and state governments having residual powers. All these aspects have been advocated for the purpose of instilling the stability of a republic for the United States. However, the democratic doctrine indicates the refusal of the authors this principle of direct popular action in the conduct of public affairs and principled defense of the majority so it wouldnt degenerate into a tyranny, affecting the constitutional principles, property rights and minority rights. Thus, the Federalist Papers articulate advocacy of a republic prior to the democracy.