PREVIEW: Constitutional Debate on the Militia: Limiting Federal Power in Virginia Ratification

Guest: Rob Natelson

Constitutional scholar Rob Natelson discusses the militia debate during the Virginia ratification convention involving James Madison and Edmund Randolph. The core issue was limiting federal government power over the state militia and National Guard while securing gubernatorial authority. Natelson explains that the Founders assured voters that federal government power was restricted to prescribing discipline and training rules, but the actual training must be conducted by the states, reflecting the constitutional design to preserve state sovereignty over militia forces.
1789

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