"The Federalist represents one side of one of the most momentous political debates ever conducted: whether to ratify, or to reject, the newly drafted American constitution. To understand the debate properly requires attention to opposing Antifederalist arguments against the newly drafted constitution, and this new and authoritative student-friendly edition presents in full all eighty-five Federalist papers written by the pseudonymous "Publius" (Hamilton, Madison, and Jay), along with the sixteen letters of "Brutus," the prominent but still unknown New York Antifederalist who was Publius's most formidable foe.

Each is sytematically cross-referenced to the other, and both to the appended Articles of Confederation and US Constitution, making the reader acutely aware of the cut and thrust of debate in progress. The distinguished political theorist Terence Ball provides all of the standard series editorial features, including brief biographies and notes for further reading, making this the most accessible edition ever of a classic of political thought in action."--Jacket.