John Jay
Definition
John Jay was an American statesman, patriot, diplomat and Founding Father who served as the United States' first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He also co-authored the Federalist Papers along with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
Analogy
Think of John Jay as a referee in a football game (the newly formed U.S.). As the first Chief Justice, he had to make sure everyone played by the rules (laws) and made fair calls when disputes arose (court decisions).
Related terms
Judicial Review: A process under which executive or legislative actions are subject to review by judiciary system. As a Chief Justice, Jay would have been involved in this process.
Treaty of Paris 1783: A treaty negotiated by John Jay that ended Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.
Federalist Papers: A series of essays written by John Jay along with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton defending the proposed Constitution before its ratification.
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