Macrolevel Consent: A Defense of Federalism

This article develops a defense of federalism that builds from a virtue ethics justification of consent. In doing so, it introduces macrolevel consent which permits a defense of federalism that is both normatively and practically satisfying. This article's defense of federalism is a necessary step in developing a theory of federalism. The first section of the article develops a virtue ethics defense of consent that is based on an Aristotelian view of human nature and human flourishing. The second section draws on Johannes Althusius to show the role of consent in a federal system. The third section outlines how the Iroquois Confederation used a version of macrolevel consent within a federal framework.