On this day in 1788, Federalist Paper No. 53 is published. Publius continues his examination of the House of Representatives. The previous paper addressed the question of biennial elections of congressmen: Is the designated frequency of elections “safe”? Put another way, do they protect liberty? This paper continues with the same topic. Then it turns to a second, but related, question: Are biennial elections “necessary or useful”? Publius begins by noting a proverbial saying:

On this day in 1922, a hero is born. William E. Metzger, Jr. would go on to become a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces, as well as a recipient of the Medal of Honor.   His sister would remember him as a kind, considerate soul.   “When he was a junior in high school,” she told a reporter, “one of his best friends died, and I think that had some kind of impact on him. He was different than a lot of young men. He was just sensitive about things. He was just a very considerate pe

On this day in 1788, Federalist Paper No. 52 is published. Publius is ready to begin an examination of each part of government. In this paper, he starts with the House of Representatives. What are the proper qualifications and terms for Congressmen? And who should get to vote for them? “[T]he right of suffrage,” Publius begins, “is very justly regarded as a fundamental article of republican government.” For this reason, Publius believes that certain matters were properly defi

On this day in 1788, Federalist Paper No. 51 is published. Publius has been following a train of thought regarding “separation of powers” since paper no. 47. This essay is the last in that series. As discussed in these essays, separation of powers is a vital characteristic of good government. (“Separation” means, for example, that the legislative and judicial powers should not be in the same hands.) However, our Constitution does not *completely* separate these governmental f