<P> 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 : </P>
<P> 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 : </P>
according to federalist 39 the constitution set up which type of government
according to federalist 39 the constitution set up which type of government
republic
republic