About

The Federalist Party is Yale's principal conservative debating society. Our Party seeks conservatives who wish to cultivate an understanding of the beliefs, institutions, and cultural practices that are essential to the survival of a robust and virtuous society. Members of our Party coalesce around a shared emphasis on religious faith, traditional family values, strong communal ties, and righteous living. We see many contemporary social phenomena as causes for concern including: the sexual revolution, breakdown of the nuclear family, secularization, moral relativism, consumerism, and digitalization of modern life.

The ladies and gentlemen of our Party hail from many backgrounds but are bound together by a shared pursuit of the Truth. You will find that friendships forged in that pursuit are neither geographically nor temporally bound as we seek to know not merely what is most efficient, fair, or equal, but what is right and what is good.

Our Party pays homage to the original Federalists—Hamilton, Madison, and Jay—and to their astute perception of human nature and good governance, as illustrated in the Federalist Papers. These men understood that while laws and norms may change with the times, arbitrary intervention in the civilization-building process is a short and nasty route to social caducity. When a people begin to think they can infinitely improve society through incessant alteration of the legal and moral order, nothing remains settled, and they endanger every dear attachment, every right and privilege, and every bit of property in the process.

Our debates tend to address issues of particular interest to American conservatives, including culture, religion, family, economics, foreign policy, and—true to our name—federalism. We also host conservative guest speakers throughout the year and participate in joint debates with other parties in the Yale Political Union. Outside of debates Federalists spend time together over meals, toasting sessions, walks, games, movie nights, and other impromptu gatherings. 

Be sure to check out what a typical Federalist week looks like, as well as all of our past debate resolutions! And please contact us here if you would like more information.