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Primary sourceDocument15 March 1788

Federalist No. 70

Alexander Hamilton · 15 March 1788

Hamilton's essay arguing that the presidency should be held by one person, not a council, to give the executive branch energy and accountability.

Hamilton wrote this essay to lay out his vision of a strong, single-person presidency.

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What it is

Federalist No. 70, titled 'The Executive Department Further Considered,' is an essay by Alexander Hamilton published in March 1788 in The New York Packet under the name Publius, as part of The Federalist Papers.

Why it matters

Hamilton wrote this essay to defend the idea of a single president against fears that a 'unitary executive' would resemble a king. He argued that unity in the executive brings energy, decisiveness, and accountability, pointing to the divided leadership of ancient Rome as a warning. The essay reveals how the framers debated whether one leader or several should run the government, and it shows Hamilton's own strong belief in a powerful presidency.

Look closer

  • What examples does Hamilton use to support his argument, and why might he have chosen them?
  • Why were some of Hamilton's contemporaries afraid of a single powerful executive?
  • How does Hamilton define 'energy' in government, and do you agree it matters as much as he claims?

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