Why Hamilton Thought The President Should Have Unlimited Terms - Federalist #72
In Federalist #72 Alexander Hamilton argues AGAINST setting a maximum length of time a person could serve as President.
Federalist #72
Alexander Hamilton
March 21, 1788
Strange as it may seem today, the United States Constitution did not set a limit on the amount of times a person could hold office as President.
That change would not come until the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951.
When the Constitution was being debated, however, many Anti-Federalists argued that a limit to the length of a presidency should be set in order to prevent someone from taking over for life.
Alexander Hamilton believed that setting limits of this nature could adversely affect the United States. In Federalist #72, he argues just this subject.
Social Upheaval
Hamilton’s first issue with limiting how long a person could be President was the massive shift each new President would bring.
From the top down, the Federal Government would need a complete overhaul each time another person assumed the position.
This type of sweeping change could lead to instability, one of Hamilton’s main concerns.
Why Behave in the Face of Removal?
Hamilton also worries that, should a President know their term is coming to an end and they could not run again, that person might not be inclined to be on their best behavior.
Knowing their presidency is coming to an end might give them a tendency to act in their own interest instead of that of the general public.
Furthermore, if the President really likes running the country, knowing their term is coming to an end might lead them to attempt a coup on the nation in order to retain their position.
The Best President Possible
Lastly, Hamilton argues that the President should be an experienced leader.
Too much turnover might demand that a candidate who is less deserving become President, as all the high quality leaders have already been President and their term has ended.
While this is a fairly dismal view of the applicants from which the American people can select, Alexander believed that if the citizens find a leader they approve of then they should have the option of retaining that President as long as they see fit.
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