eral discussion of federalism as the conceptual frame of the American government. The concept of federalism is really a conception of power sharing by different government constituents. This implies a citizen's dual loyalty, to state and to national government, a citizen having dual residence in nation and state. Now citizens pay taxes to both powers and derive protection from both owing to their powers. And while the interests of the federal and state government are balanced, along with a balance between various interest groups, the concept of the individual as a source of government power and as a citizen entitled to liberty is preserved. According to the explanation of federalism articulated by Madison under the pseudonym Publius, it is the strong national government that is uniquely suited to the task of rationalizing the individual citizen's experience of government: "It is no less certain than it is important, notwithstanding the contrary opinions which have been entertained, that the larger the society, provided it lie within a practicable sphere, the more duly capable it will be of self-government. And happily for the republican cause, the practicable sphere may be carried to a very great extent by a judicious modification and mixture of the federal principle."
Antifederalist discourse, which did not favor ratification of the constitution, focused not on the system of power sharing but on the likelihood that power would be unavailable either to people or to individual states, usurped instead by national government: "Different laws, customs, and opinions exist in the different states, which by a uniform system of laws would be unreasonably invaded." The Antifederalist view was say that "consolidation of this extensive continent, under one government, for internal, as well as external purposes . . . cannot succeed, without a sacrifice of your liberties."
Federalism as a concept gave rise to most controversies of the const...