James Madison (1751-1836) - 'the Father of the American Constitution' - was a legal and political thinker of great originality and range. The essays by eminent scholars reprinted in this volume explore various facets and aspects of Madison's legal, constitutional and political thought. These include his views of human nature, republican political theory and practice, federalism, natural and civil rights, religious liberty, and constitutional interpretation. The volume is edited and introduced by Terence Ball whose scholarly publications include an authoritative annotated edition of Hamilton, Madison and Jay's The Federalist (Cambridge University Press, 2003).