Federalist 70 | Primary Source Essentials

Summary

In Federalist 70, Alexander Hamilton argues that a strong and energetic executive branch is essential for effective government. Drawing from the weaknesses of the British monarchy and the Articles of Confederation, Hamilton asserts that a unified, single executive with sufficient powers and a longer duration in office is necessary to provide vigor in national defense, law enforcement, and the protection of liberties. He warns that a plural executive would lead to division and inefficiency. The essay emphasizes that energy and dispatch in the executive are crucial for maintaining a balanced and functional government.

Takeaways

• 😀 Federalist 70 discusses the essential characteristics of the Executive branch as envisioned in the U.S. Constitution.
• 😀 The central question of Federalist 70 is: What are the key qualities of an effective executive?
• 😀 The experience under the British monarchy made revolutionaries wary of executive power, but the Articles of Confederation's weak executives proved ineffective.
• 😀 The U.S. Constitution aimed to strengthen the national government, especially the executive branch, while maintaining a balanced government.
• 😀 Alexander Hamilton argues that a weak executive leads to a weak and ineffective government.
• 😀 An effective executive needs energy, vigor, and dispatch to fulfill key roles like national defense, law enforcement, and protecting property and liberty.
• 😀 Unity in a single executive is crucial for ensuring energy and effectiveness in the executive branch.
• 😀 Hamilton emphasizes that a longer duration in office is necessary for the executive to gain experience and act decisively.
• 😀 A plural executive (with multiple leaders) would result in division, lack of responsibility, and hinder effective governance.
• 😀 Federalist 70 argues that the essential qualities of the executive branch are energy, dispatch, and unity in a single executive with adequate powers.
• 😀 The essay concludes that a robust and unified executive is necessary for maintaining a stable and effective government.

Q & A

What is the central question of Federalist 70?

The central question of Federalist 70 is: What are the essential characteristics of the Executive branch?

How did the colonial experience under the British monarch influence the American revolutionaries' view of executive authority?

The colonial experience under the British monarch made the revolutionaries afraid of concentrated executive authority, leading them to create weak executives in the state constitutions and the Articles of Confederation to prevent tyranny.

What was the problem with weak executives under the state constitutions and the Articles of Confederation?

Weak executives under the state constitutions and the Articles of Confederation resulted in ineffective governance and an imbalance in the separation of powers, which hindered the ability of the government to function properly.

What does Federalist 70 argue about the executive branch?

Federalist 70 argues that a strong and energetic executive is necessary for a functional government. It emphasizes the importance of unity in the executive, longer duration in office, and adequate powers to achieve government goals.

Why does Hamilton argue that a weak executive leads to a weak government?

Hamilton argues that a weak executive leads to a weak government because it lacks the energy, vigor, and decisive action needed to govern effectively, particularly in areas like national defense, law enforcement, and the protection of property and liberty.

What are the essential components of an energetic executive according to Hamilton?

The essential components of an energetic executive, according to Hamilton, are unity in a single executive, a longer duration in office to gain experience, and having adequate powers to fulfill the executive's duties.

Why does Hamilton oppose the idea of a plural executive?

Hamilton opposes a plural executive because he believes it would lead to division, lack of responsibility, mutual blame, and inefficiency, ultimately impeding the government's ability to take decisive action when needed.

What is meant by 'energy' in the executive branch as discussed in Federalist 70?

In Federalist 70, 'energy' refers to the vigor, decisiveness, and efficiency required in the executive branch to govern effectively, including fulfilling responsibilities like national defense, law enforcement, and the preservation of justice and liberty.

How does Federalist 70 propose balancing the power of the executive branch?

Federalist 70 proposes balancing the power of the executive branch by giving it sufficient energy and authority while ensuring it remains within a limited and balanced system of government, preventing tyranny and maintaining accountability.

What key goals should a strong executive be able to achieve, according to Hamilton?

According to Hamilton, a strong executive should be able to achieve key goals such as national defense, law enforcement, property protection, and the preservation of liberty and justice.