Unity and Federalism: for constitutional republics
Franklin
If we do not hang together we will all hang separately.
— Benjamin Franklin
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Unification versus Separation
- Federalist
Papers, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay.
Historical Examples
- Constitution of the Iroquois
Confederacy.
"The Constitution of most of our states (and of the
United States) assert that all power is inherent in the
people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it
is their right and duty to be at all times armed and that
they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of
religion, freedom of property, and freedom of press."
— Thomas Jefferson
State and Provincial Constitutions
U.S. State Constitutions and Web Sites
Links to Federalism Sites
- Federalism
and the Courts
- Cases
& Materials on American Federalism, online course by
Douglas Amber.
International Federation
- Freedom's Frontier — Atlantic
Union Now, by Clarence K. Streit — Classic treatise
on international conflict and federalism. Also see a Review by Jon Roland.
- Union Now, Clarence
K. Streit (1939) — Classic work which sought to prevent World
War II.
- Association to Unite the
Democracies. Email to: information@iaud.org —
Seeks a federal union of the more advanced democratic countries
through a constitutional convention. Has some excellent
materials on federal principles and processes. Founded by
Clarence K. Streit.
- European
Movement — Association contributing to the establishment
of a unified, federal Europe.
- Union of
European Federalists (UEF) — Independent and
non-governmental, supranational organisation, dedicated to the
promotion of a federal Europe.
- Campaign
for a European Federal Constitution — Seek a federal
constitution for Europe.
- European
Convention — Seek a constitutional convention for Europe.
- European
Federal Union — Promote European federation in Britain.
- European Union (EU) in the US
— Seeks a federal union of the European countries, but have been
proceeding through a gradualist process that raises questions of
constitutional legitimacy. But provides insight into the
problems of integrating disparate political and legal systems.
- The
History of Europe as a Supranational Region: Primary Documents
— Collection of historical documents.
- Treaty of
Westphalia, 1648 — Made peace in Europe for a while.
Separation and Liberation
Sometimes people decide they cannot secure their rights within the framework of an existing polity, and must separate from it. We generally favor enforcing constitutional compliance within an existing polity, but sometimes independence is the only way. We devote a separate page to some of these movements.