Federalist No. 39, "The conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles '', is an essay by James Madison, the thirty - ninth of The Federalist Papers, published on January 18, 1788. Madison defines what a republican form of government is considered, which was what the nation was currently called. It also considers whether the nation is federal or national: a confederacy, or consolidation of states. At that moment the nation was considered federal and states were confederate, but they were leaning towards a national government (federal vs. national government). Madison then defines what republic means and states three rules which must apply to be considered a republic:
according to federalist 39 the constitution set up which type of government
Republic republic republic republic