Originalism, Federalism, and the American Constitutional Enterprise: A Historical Inquiry

Front Cover
Yale University Press, Dec 28, 2007 - Political Science - 301 pages

In this lively historical examination of American federalism, a leading scholar in the field refutes the widely accepted notion that the founding fathers carefully crafted a constitutional balance of power between the states and the federal government. Edward A. Purcell Jr. bases his argument on close analysis of the Constitution’s original structure and the ways that structure both induced and accommodated changes over the centuries.


There was no clear agreement among the founding fathers regarding the "true" nature of American federalism, Purcell contends, nor was there a consensus on "correct" lines dividing state and national authority. Furthermore, even had there been some true "original" understanding, the elastic and dynamic nature of the constitutional structure would have made it impossible for subsequent generations to maintain any "original" or permanent balance. The author traces the evolution of federalism through the centuries, focusing particularly on shifting interpretations founded on political interests. He concludes with insights into current issues of federal power and a discussion of the grounds on which legitimate decisions about federal and state power should rest.

 

Contents

Part I Structural Intrinsics
15
Part II Consequential Dynamics
83
Part III Conclusion
187
Notes
207
Index
293
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Bibliographic information