James Madison

Record year1787–1788

summaryParticipated in forming a stronger federal framework and systematically argued for its structure and ratification through joint articles.

M rationaleThe interstate national framework and systematic public argument are high-scope institutional and textual achievements, but the slavery compromise, exclusions from rights and representation, and risks of federal power are direct limitations of the original structure and are already incorporated in M.

attribution rationaleJames Madison .14; Alexander Hamilton .10; John Jay .03; Constitutional Convention delegates and drafting committee .27; participants in state ratifying conventions and public debate .16; antecedents of republican constitutionalism, colonial self-government, and the Confederation .17; unresolved share .13. The shares are revisable research judgments.

overlap boundaryIt treats the 1787 constitutional participation, the 1787–88 ratification campaign, and the writing of 'The Federalist Papers' as one completed constitutional design and argument; it does not claim all later American democracy, case law, or national development.

Evidence gapsSpecific article authorship, clauses, and compromises have not been verified item by item; original materials from Anti-Federalists and excluded groups need to be supplemented.

Record year1785

summaryA systematic public text argues that religious practice should be guided by reason and belief rather than state coercion, and serves a specific petition against the assessment.

M rationaleThis text has an independent legal domain, subject matter, and completed public argument, distinct from the 1789–91 federal Bill of Rights, and is estimated at M5.6; M is judged by textual scope and normative increment, not repeatedly discounted because Madison's personal share is lower.

attribution rationaleJames Madison .28; George Mason .10; George Nicholas .06; Virginia petitioners and organizers against the religious tax .18; Alexandria's original printing and dissemination chain .08; antecedents of religious freedom and rights in Virginia .18; unresolved share .12. The shares are revisable research judgments.

overlap boundaryOnly anonymous petitions and public argument opposing Virginia's General Assessment bill around 1785, together with their contemporary dissemination, are counted; it does not claim credit for authorship of Jefferson's Statute for Religious Freedom, its voting result, or all later American practices of religious freedom.

Evidence gapsHas not verified complete signature lists, county-level petition distribution, or final votes; the text's actual influence cannot be inferred backwards from the passage of subsequent legislation.

Record year1789–1791

summaryBrought dispersed rights claims into the First Congress and formed a federal amendment process that could be ratified.

M rationaleTen amendments formed a federal rights text open to continuing interpretation and debate; slavery, gender, and Native American exclusions still existed at the time, and the text was not treated as universal rights already realized. The shared process is accounted for separately in the budget.

attribution rationaleJames Madison .13; First U.S. Congress and drafting committee .31; state legislatures and ratification participants .24; antecedents of Anti-Federalism and rights-protection advocacy .18; English and American rights traditions and antecedents of state constitutions .08; unresolved share .06. The shares are revisable research judgments.

overlap boundaryThe account covers Madison's proposed amendments, the House's 17, the Senate's consolidation into 12, and the collective legislative work culminating in 1791 in the ratification of ten amendments; it does not attribute later judicial interpretation, enforcement, or the realization of all rights to him.

Evidence gapsOriginal proposal drafts, amendments in both houses, and state ratification records were not verified item by item; later applications are not retroactively attributed.