Federalist No. 39 in AP US Government

Federalist No. 39 is Madison's required foundational document arguing that the Constitution creates a partly national, partly federal system.

What is Federalist No. 39?

Federalist No. 39 is James Madison's defense of the Constitution as a mixed system. He argues that the new government is national in some ways, because it operates directly on the people, but federal in other ways, because states help ratify the Constitution and remain important parts of the system.

Why Federalist No. 39 matters in AP® Gov

For AP Gov, Federalist No. 39 now connects directly to Topic 1.7 on the relationship between state and national governments. It gives you required-document evidence for arguments about federalism, divided power, state participation, and limits on concentrated authority.

Is Federalist No. 39 on the AP® Gov exam?

Expect Federalist No. 39 to matter in source-analysis questions and in FRQ 4 evidence. If a prompt asks whether the Constitution strengthens national power or preserves state power, this document lets you argue that it does both.

Key things to remember about Federalist No. 39

• Federalist No. 39 is one of the thirteen AP Gov required foundational documents.

• Madison describes the Constitution as partly national and partly federal.

• It is strongest evidence for federalism and the balance between state and national power.

Frequently asked questions about Federalist No. 39

What is the main idea of Federalist No. 39?

Madison argues that the Constitution creates a mixed system. It has national features and federal features, so power is shared instead of concentrated in one level of government.

Is Federalist No. 39 required for AP Gov?

Yes. Federalist No. 39 is one of the thirteen required foundational documents for the 2027 AP Gov exam cycle.