Richard A. Epstein.
There is little doubt that the Framers of the United States Constitution had little awareness of the immense complexities that would creep into the constitutional system that they created in 1787 in Philadelphia. Their challenges were enormous given the necessity to determine the appropriate relationship of the states, both with each other and with the federal government. It is that last question that is the focus of this article, which asks the simple question of what level of protection states have from taxation and regulation by the federal government.