Document 1: Federalist 70 (modified) Written by Alexander Hamilton, 1788

To the People of the State of New York:

THERE is an idea, which is not without its advocates, that a strong Executive is inconsistent with the genius of republican government. A strong executive ensures good government and is essential in protecting the community from foreign attacks and in administering laws. The executive is essential for protecting private property from criminals, and securing liberty against enterprises of ambition, faction or anarchy. A feeble Executive implies a feeble execution of the government.

So what powers should the executive have? How can they be combined with those other branches to constitute safety in the republican sense?

The ingredients which constitute energy in the Executive are, first, unity (a single executive); secondly, duration; thirdly, an adequate provision for its support; fourthly, competent powers.

The ingredients which constitute safety in the republican sense are, first, a due dependence on the people, secondly, a due responsibility.

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. Having only 1 executive will ensure that the branch acts with decision, secrecy and frequency. Wherever two or more persons are engaged in any common enterprise or pursuit, there is always danger of difference of opinion. If it be a public trust or office, in which they are clothed with equal dignity and authority, there is peculiar danger of personal emulation and even animosity and they might impede or frustrate the most important measures of the government, in the most critical emergencies of the state. And what is still worse, they might split the community into the most violent and irreconcilable factions, adhering differently to the different individuals who composed the presidency.

People who have been elected to office by the public often become corrupt and act in a manner that causes them to lose public trust. If there are more than one executive then it is hard to tell who committed which crimes. It often becomes impossible, amidst mutual accusations, to determine on whom the blame or the punishment of a pernicious measure, or series of pernicious measures, ought really to fall. It is shifted from one to another with so much dexterity, and under such plausible appearances, that the public opinion is left in suspense about the real criminal.

It is evident from these considerations, that the plurality of the Executive tends to deprive the people of the two greatest securities they can have for the faithful exercise of any delegated power,
first, the restraints of public opinion, which lose their effectiveness if there are multiple presidents, especially if the public does not know which President was responsible for bad government
Secondly, the opportunity of discovering which executive was responsible for misconduct so they can be removed from office

When executive power is placed in the hands of so small a number of men, whose interests and views can be easily combined in a common goal, by an artful leader, it becomes more liable to abuse and more dangerous when abused.

If the executive is lodged in the hands of one man; who, from the very circumstance of his being alone, will be more narrowly watched and more readily suspected for wrong doing, then he will not be able to unite so great a mass of influence to shelter from public censure as when he is associated with others.

PUBLIUS.

Federalist 70 Guiding Questions:
1) What is the main thing Hamilton is worried about in Federalist 70? support your answer with a quote.

2) In what ways are the people responsible for checking the power of the presidency? Support this answer with a quote.

3) Are citizens supposed to trust a president, or question them? What quote supports this answer?

4) According to the founders, aside from tyranny, what kinds of ways could a president abuse the position of the office? Support with a quote.