Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist

A bill of rights is not needed. The Constitution is the ultimate protection for the people's rights. The Constitution does not give the government power to take away people's rights. It gives the government limited power to do certain things.

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• Anti-Federalist

The Constitution gives the national government too much power at the expense of the state governments, such as the power to tax citizens and raising /keeping an army during peacetime.

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• Anti-Federalist

The powers of the national government are separated and balanced among the three branches. No one branch can dominate the states. These systems -- separation of powers, and checks & balances -- make it impossible for any one person or group to take complete control of the government.

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• Anti-Federalist

The Constitution provides protections for the state governments by specifically reserving certain powers for the states. This will prevent the states from being destroyed by the national government.

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• Anti-Federalist

The Constitution does not include a bill of rights. A bill of rights is necessary to protect people against the power of the national government. Since these freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition are not in the Constitution, the government is free to violate them.

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• Anti-Federalist

The national government will have greater power than it did under the Articles of Confederation. But its powers are limited to solving problems that face the entire nation, such as trade and defense.

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• Anti-Federalist

Free government requires the active participation of the people. The national government will be located far from where most people live. As a result, the only way the government will be able to rule is with military force. The result will be tyranny.

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• Anti-Federalist

The Constitution gives too much power to the executive branch of the national government. The executive branch will soon become a monarchy.

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• Anti-Federalist

The supremacy clause in the Constitution means all the national laws are superior to laws made by the state governments. It will only be a matter of time until state governments are destroyed.

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• Anti-Federalist

A strong executive branch is necessary so the national government can fulfill its responsibilities. Congress and the Supreme Court have checks on the use of power by the executive branch. The executive branch cannot become a monarchy.

• Federalist

• Anti-Federalist