Energy in the Executive: Thoughts by Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 70

The construction of the Executive Branch was debated for several days in the Constitutional Convention. When the Constitution was sent to the States for consideration, many Anti-Federalists attacked the Executive Branch as tending to monarchy or despotism, and being inconsistent with the "genius of republican government."

In The Federalist, Alexander Hamilton had the following to say about a "vigorous executive."

August Glen-James, editor

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 anarcy. Every man the least conversant in Roman history knows how often the republic was obliged to take refuge in the absolute power of a single man, under the formidable title of dictator, as well against the intrigues of ambitious individuals who aspired to the tyranny, and the seditions of whole classes of the community whose conduct threatened the existence of all government, as against the invasions of external enemies who menaced the conquest and destruction of Rome.

There can be no need, however, to multiply arguments or examples on this head. A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of 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.