Federalist No. 70
Federalist No. 70
The Need for an Energetic Executive
Alexander Hamilton wrote Federalist No. 70, "The Executive Department Further Considered," under the pen name "Publius." It was first published in New York newspapers on March 15, 1788.
Hamilton wrote this essay to convince the public that a single, strong president would actually produce more liberty for the people, not less. He argues that "energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government," essential for protecting the community, administering laws steadily, and safeguarding property and liberty. A weak executive means a weak, ineffective government.
Hamilton identifies four requirements for an energetic executive: unity, duration, adequate support, and competent powers. A single president provides far more unity than a plural executive (a group), which would inevitably get bogged down in internal disagreement.
Executive Speed vs. Legislative Deliberation
Hamilton argues speed matters differently depending on the branch. The executive's job is enforcing laws Congress has already made, so there's no benefit to being slow or weak, and quick, decisive action is especially critical during crises, war, or disaster. Congress, on the other hand, benefits from moving slowly and deliberately, since speed there is more often harmful than helpful, rushing tends to produce bad laws or laws that trample individual rights. Slower legislative action promotes careful deliberation and helps prevent majorities from steamrolling minorities.
Accountability Through Unity
Hamilton's strongest argument is that a single executive is far easier to hold accountable. A plural executive tends to "conceal faults and destroy responsibility," since a group in charge can always blame each other when things go wrong, making it hard for voters to know who's actually responsible. A single president, by contrast, can't hide behind anyone else, meaning public opinion becomes a real, effective check, since everyone knows exactly who to credit or blame, whether through impeachment or simply voting them out.
Big picture
Hamilton's case for a unitary executive is like preferring one captain over a committee running a ship. The legislative branch, like careful shipbuilders, should move slowly to get things right, but the captain in a storm needs to act instantly and decisively, and if the ship runs aground, everyone needs to know exactly whose call it was.
Uses for Argumentative Essays
- Principles: separation of powers, an energetic single (unitary) executive, and accountability.
- Where it shows up: Unit 2, Topic 2.6 (EK 2.6.A.1: Federalist No. 70 justifies a single executive as essential to defending the country, enforcing the laws steadily, and protecting property and liberty). The CED also links it to Topic 1.6 and to Topics 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, and 2.12 to 2.15 (presidential powers, checks on the president, and the bureaucracy).
- In an argument essay: use it to defend a strong presidency, like quick action in a crisis or broad use of executive orders. For the other side, the Twenty-Second Amendment's two-term limit (EK 2.6.A.2) and Congress's checks on the president show the fear of a president becoming too powerful.