New Federalist Papers brings together three prominent and highly visible constitutional experts - Alan Brinkley, Nelson W. Polsby, and Kathleen M. Sullivan - to address the threats posed by current challenges to the American Constitution and defend the representative democracy put in place by its framers.

Like Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, the authors of New Federalist Papers see danger in the effort to diminish and relocate federal power at the same time that they recognize the importance of the market, of state and local governments, and of the many other institutions on which a healthy society depends.

They aim to stimulate debate at a time when there is much at stake, recognizing that it is the task of public discourse to bring about a reasoned consideration of such issues as gun control, term limits, flag burning, the balanced-budget amendment, campaign finance reform, and the attempt to require a "supermajority" in Congress for the passage of controversial legislation.