Thomas Jefferson and James Madison's views on the interpretation of the Constitution (DBQ)

The general consensus among historians is that there was a difference of opinions between Thomas Jefferson and James Madison on the policies of the interpretation of the Constitution. It is generally believed that Thomas Jefferson felt that there should be strict and inflexible interpretation of the Constitution, while James Madison felt that the Constitution was elastic and that many different laws could be derived form a single clause. Their views, however, seemed to have switched …

…as strict constructionists and James Madison and the Federalists as broad interpreters was true, but not for the entire sixteen years between 1801 and 1817. In the beginning of Jefferson's presidency, each had those views. Towards the end of it, however, their beliefs switched, and this was evident in the way that Jefferson ended up believing that change was good and how Madison refused to stray from the powers given to the Federal Government by the Constitution.