Federalist No. 70 (1788) — “The Executive Department Further Considered,” written by Alexander Hamilton. In this essay, Hamilton argues that a single executive (led by one person as president, rather than several people acting as a council) is the best form for the executive branch of the United States.
He reasons that one president can act more quickly, and with more secrecy when necessary, than a larger group of leaders. He also argues that a single executive is less dangerous to democracy than a council, because it is easier to identify and remove one corrupt person than to discover who among several leaders is a bad actor.
Federalist 70 Alexander Hamilton and the Executive Branch: My notes
He reasons that one president can act more quickly, and with more secrecy when necessary, than a larger group of leaders. He also argues that a single executive is less dangerous to democracy than a council, because it is easier to identify and remove one corrupt person than to discover who among several leaders is a bad actor.
Federalist 70 Alexander Hamilton and the Executive Branch: My notes
- Most referenced federalist paper concerning the presidency
- Hamilton argued for “energy in the executive”
- This energy is the justification for expansion of president’s powers
- Power of president meant to provide energy, secrecy and dispatch seen in monarchs
- Government is meant to provide for the common or public good
- President must be able to protect against foreign attack, administer the laws, and protect property, and secure liberty (thus why he must be energetic)
- President must protect liberty against factions, anarchy, and greed
- Example of Roman consuls with power to be dictator in emergency
- One executive is preferable; more than one will encourage conflict and dissention, the president needs to be able to act quickly and factions are bad here (but they are okay in Congress as seen in Federalist 10)
- Once Congress passes laws, arguments are over and execution of laws need to be swift
- Single executive makes fault easier to establish and hold responsible
- Multiple executives would require a huge expense
- New York had a single executive and it worked well