Federalist 70 and the Need for a Single Executive

Federalist 70 Overview

  • Title: Federalist 70

  • Author: Alexander Hamilton

  • Purpose: Justification for a single executive (president) in the context of American government and the ratification debates of the Constitution.

  • Context: Anti-Federalist concerns about executive power resembling monarchical rule.

    • Anti-Federalists advocated for a council of executives to prevent any individual from becoming a tyrant.

Main Arguments for a Single Executive

  • Hamilton's Position: Believes that having a single executive is crucial for effective governance .He argues that a strong, decisive leader can respond swiftly to crises, ensuring stability and coherence in policy-making. Hamilton emphasizes that accountability is harder to achieve in a council, where responsibility can be diffused and decisions may be bogged down by disagreements.

Definition of an Energetic Executive

  • Core Quality: Energy in the executive is essential for good government.

    • Quote from Hamilton: "Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government."

  • Impact of a Feeble Executive: A weak executive leads to poor execution of government functions.

Advantages of an Energetic Executive

  • Speed and Decisiveness: A single executive can act more swiftly compared to a legislative body which is slower due to its size and deliberative nature.

    • Legislative branch requires debate and compromise among multiple representatives that can lead to delays.

  • **Two Key Benefits: **

    1. Unity

    • Unity promotes energy in governance.

    • Quote from Hamilton: "Decision, activity, secrecy, and dispatch will generally characterize the proceedings of one man in a much more eminent degree than the proceedings of any greater number."

    • As the number of executives increases, the energy and efficacy of execution diminish.

    1. Responsibility

    • Multiple executives make it difficult to assign blame in cases of failure or mismanagement.

    • Quote from Hamilton: “If power is abused by the executive branch and there are several executives, it may well be impossible to determine which of those executives is at fault.”

    • A single executive allows for clear accountability; citizens can identify who to blame or replace in elections.

Historical Evidence

  • Hamilton cites historical examples where reliance on multiple executives led to division and ineffectiveness in governance. This includes instances from ancient Rome and the Greek city-states, where shared power resulted in conflict and hindered decisive action, thereby supporting the necessity of a strong, singular executive.

    • Disunity during emergencies could frustrate critical governmental measures.

    • Potential for societal divisions where factions align with different executives, complicating governance.

Comparison of Legislative and Executive Branches

  • Legislative Branch:

    • Strength lies in the multitude of representatives leading to extensive deliberation.

    • However, this aspect counteracts the necessary qualities of vigor and expedition required in the executive function.

  • Executive Branch:

    • Needs focus, quick decision-making, and a clear sense of responsibility for effective leadership.

Conclusion of Federalist 70

  • Despite concerns regarding the centralization of power in a single executive, Hamilton argues that this structure best serves the needs of a republic, ensuring energetic governance.

  • Citizens have the ability to enact changes through the electoral process when faced with corruption or poor performance by the executive.