# The Senate — The Federalist Papers character guide

> The Senate in The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Senate

**First appearance:** 0064-lxii-the-senate

## Snapshot

The proposed upper chamber, defended as a small, stable body fit to share treaty-making and appointment powers with the president.

## Who they are

The Senate is where Publius works out the delicate partnership between a single executive and a select assembly, especially over treaties and appointments. The tension is between size and capability: too few members and it cannot represent a growing nation, too many and it becomes unfit for the trust. In the middle papers it matters because the argument for the Constitution's competence — that it can choose good officers and conduct foreign policy wisely — rests on the Senate's design and its cooperation with the president.

## Relationships

### [Alexander Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/characters/alexander_hamilton)

_professional_

Hamilton argues for a strong, independent Senate as a necessary check on popular passions in the proposed government.

### [The Judges](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/characters/the_judges)

_professional_

The Senate and the judiciary are discussed as co-equal branches with overlapping roles in impeachment and constitutional interpretation.

## In the story

### [XXVIII: The Same Subject Continued (The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xxviii-the-same-subject-continued-the-idea-of-restraining-the-legislative-authority-in-regard-to-the-common-defense-considered)

Referenced indirectly as part of the national government.

### [Federalist No. 29: Concerning the Militia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xxix-concerning-the-militia)

Implied as part of the federal legislature that would deliberate on militia establishment.

### [XXXII: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the General Power of Taxation)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xxxii-the-same-subject-continued-concerning-the-general-power-of-taxation)

Implied in the discussion of legislative consent for state duties on imports and exports.

### [XXXIII: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the General Power of Taxation)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-same-subject-continued-concerning-the-general-power-of-taxation)

Part of the national legislature referenced implicitly in the context of legislative power.

### [XXXV: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the General Power of Taxation)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xxxv-the-same-subject-continued-concerning-the-general-power-of-taxation)

Mentioned in the context of state legislatures, comparing representation of moderate proprietors.

### [XXXIX: The Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xxxix-the-conformity-of-the-plan-to-republican-principles)

Discussed as deriving powers from states as coequal societies, representing the federal aspect.

### [XL: On the Powers of the Convention to Form a Mixed Government Examined and Sustained](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xl-on-the-powers-of-the-convention-to-form-a-mixed-government-examined-and-sustained)

Mentioned as one branch of the new government appointed by state legislatures.

### [XLIII: The Same Subject Continued (The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xliii-the-same-subject-continued-the-powers-conferred-by-the-constitution-further-considered)

Referenced regarding the exception for equal suffrage as a safeguard for state sovereignty.

### [XLIV: Restrictions on the Authority of the Several States](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xliv-restrictions-on-the-authority-of-the-several-states)

Referenced in the context of state legislatures' role in electing Senators.

### [XLVII: The Particular Structure of the New Government and the Distribution of Power Among Its Different Parts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xlvii-the-particular-structure-of-the-new-government-and-the-distribution-of-power-among-its-different-parts)

Mentioned as a branch of the legislature with judicial and executive roles in various state constitutions.

### [LIII: The Same Subject Continued (The House of Representatives)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/liii-the-same-subject-continued-the-house-of-representatives)

Mentioned in relation to the House, noting that less informed members may fall into snares laid by the Senate.

### [LV: The Total Number of the House of Representatives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lv-the-total-number-of-the-house-of-representatives)

Mentioned as a potential source of corruption through appointments, but dismissed as improbable.

### [LVIII: Objection That the Number of Members Will Not Be Augmented as the Progress of Population Demands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lviii-objection-that-the-number-of-members-will-not-be-augmented-as-the-progress-of-population-demands)

Mentioned as the branch representing states, potentially opposing augmentation but subject to House influence.

### [LIX: Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lix-concerning-the-power-of-congress-to-regulate-the-election-of-members)

Mentioned in comparison: state legislatures appoint senators, but the risk to the Union is less due to staggered terms and small size.

### [LX: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lx-the-same-subject-continued-concerning-the-power-of-congress-to-regulate-the-election-of-members)

Mentioned as a branch whose composition by state legislatures makes it immune to federal manipulation of elections.

### [LXII: The Senate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxii-the-senate)

The subject of the chapter, analyzed for its qualifications, appointment, representation, and term.

### [LXIII: The Senate Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxiii-the-senate-continued)

The subject of the chapter, discussed as a stable legislative body.

### [LXIV: The Powers of the Senate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxiv-the-powers-of-the-senate)

The body whose powers are being defended; Jay argues for its composition, stability, and role in providing advice and consent for treaties.

### [LXV: The Powers of the Senate Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxv-the-powers-of-the-senate-continued)

Designated as the court for impeachment trials, praised for its dignity and independence.

### [LXVI: Objections to the Power of the Senate to Set as a Court for Impeachments Further Considered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxvi-objections-to-the-power-of-the-senate-to-set-as-a-court-for-impeachments-further-considered)

The body under scrutiny, proposed as the court for impeachments; its powers and potential biases are debated.

### [LXVII: The Executive Department](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxvii-the-executive-department)

Mentioned as the body that advises and consents on appointments and whose recess triggers temporary presidential appointments.

### [LXVIII: The Mode of Electing the President](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxviii-the-mode-of-electing-the-president)

Mentioned as the body that selects the Vice-President in case of no majority, and whose presiding officer is the Vice-President.

### [The Real Character of the Executive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxix-the-real-character-of-the-executive)

Mentioned as the body whose advice and consent is required for treaties and appointments, providing a check on presidential power.

### [LXX: The Executive Department Further Considered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxx-the-executive-department-further-considered)

Referenced indirectly in the context of councils and legislative bodies, though not directly named.

### [LXXI: The Duration in Office of the Executive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxxi-the-duration-in-office-of-the-executive)

Mentioned indirectly as part of the legislative body that might encroach on executive power.

### [LXXIII: The Provision for the Support of the Executive, and the Veto Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxxiii-the-provision-for-the-support-of-the-executive-and-the-veto-power)

Part of the legislature that, along with the House, would be subject to the presidential veto.

### [LXXV: The Treaty-Making Power of the Executive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxxv-the-treaty-making-power-of-the-executive)

Described as the body that, with the President, holds the treaty-making power; its composition and voting rules are analyzed.

### [LXXVI: The Appointing Power of the Executive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxxvi-the-appointing-power-of-the-executive)

The body whose advice and consent is required for appointments, and whose integrity and independence are defended against potential executive corruption.

### [LXXVII: The Appointing Power Continued and Other Powers of the Executive Considered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxxvii-the-appointing-power-continued-and-other-powers-of-the-executive-considered)

Key role in appointments by consenting to nominations and in treaties, providing stability and restraint on the Executive.

### [LXXVIII: The Judiciary Department](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxxviii-the-judiciary-department)

Part of the legislative branch; mentioned in context of checks on judicial appointments.

### [LXXIX: The Judiciary Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxxix-the-judiciary-continued)

Tries impeachments of judges for malconduct.

### [LXXXI: The Judiciary Continued, and the Distribution of the Judicial Authority](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxxxi-the-judiciary-continued-and-the-distribution-of-the-judicial-authority)

Proposed as the court for trial of impeachments, providing a check on the judiciary.

### [LXXXIV: Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and Answered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxxxiv-certain-general-and-miscellaneous-objections-to-the-constitution-considered-and-answered)

Mentioned in context of treaty and appointment powers.

### [LXXXV: Concluding Remarks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxxxv-concluding-remarks)

Implied in the discussion of the national government's structure and amendment process.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/endnotes)

Mentioned in the endnotes in relation to the trial of impeachments and the legislative process.

## Links

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