Question of the Day

Did James Madison, the "father" of the U.S. Constitution and primary author of the Bill of Rights, consider it constitutional for the federal government to create social welfare programs like food stamps, Medicaid, and Social Security?

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In the Federalist Papers, James Madison wrote that the "general Welfare" clause of the Constitution applied only to the specific powers listed in Constitution, such as coining money, raising armies, and enacting immigration laws. He also wrote that it would be "an absurdity" to interpret the Constitution in a way that would allow the federal government to create social welfare programs.

DocumentationConstitutionality of Social Programs