A Summary of Federalist #70

Federalist #70, written by Alexander Hamilton, was part of the Federalist Papers. In Federalist #70 Hamilton advocates for a strong, unified executive to maintain energy, and allow the public to hold the executive accountable.

A strong presidency provides unity, stability, and protection for our country.

"It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against those irregular and high-handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary course of justice; to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy."

A weak executive branch creates a bad government because people will be in danger and violated if their liberties are not protected, and the executive will lose the trust of the people. 

"There can be no need, however, to multiply arguments or examples on this head. A feeble Executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad government."

Energy is required for the president to be responsible, decisive, and efficient in order to protect the people.

"Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against those irregular and high-handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary course of justice; to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy."

Having the qualification of energy is the most powerful in a single executive.

"Those politicians and statesmen who have been the most celebrated for the soundness of their principles and for the justice of their views, have declared in favor of a single Executive and a numerous legislature. They have with great propriety, considered energy as the most necessary qualification of the former, and have regarded this as most applicable to power in a single hand, while they have, with equal propriety, considered the latter as best adapted to deliberation and wisdom, and best calculated to conciliate the confidence of the people and to secure their privileges and interests."