In this episode, the Friends of Publius discuss James Madison’s proposal for a national veto at the 1787 Constitutional Convention.  This question is from Unit 2, Question 2 of the Center for Civic Education’s We the People curriculum.  

James Madison proposed that the national legislature have the authority to “veto” all state laws that threatened the national good.  To what extent was this a reasonable idea to place such power in the national legislature?

*In your opinion, has the supremacy clause functioned the way Madison’s national negative might have?  Why or why not?

*To what extent has Congress historically maintained its strength within the separation of powers framework?