Federalist No. 71 is one of <em>The Federalist Papers</em>, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay to promote the ratification of the Constitution. Federalist No. 71 is titled "The Duration in Office of the Executive" and it established the duration of the office, which is of four years.
1. Federalist 71 supports Federalist 51, which deals with the system of checks and balances and the separation of powers. The term of four years, Hamilton argued, would allow the president to become comfortable in his position. He would develop his expertise and that would give him independence from the legislative branch. This autonomy would provide a check against the passions or unwise opinions of the public.
2. The four-year-term is still the standard today. A lot of what Hamilton argued has remained true. For example, Hamilton argued that a relatively short term would force presidents to worry about satisfying the people, as opposed to the unaccountability of long-term rulers. This is still true as presidents mostly try to maintain a good image and record during their first tenure.
3. Federalist 71 establishes that the presidential tenure should be of four years. This is long enough for the president to get well-acquainted with the job, and for real change to happen, but not so long that accountability is forgotten.
4. A strong federal government is required in order to foster cooperation between states. It is also important for ensuring that the Constitution is respected all over the country.
