Federalist Nos. 67-77: How Would Publius Envision the Civil Service Today?

Federalist Nos. 67-77 offer a strong defense of the 'energetic executive" embedded in the new constitution, which is best captured in Alexander Hamilton's statement that "the true test of a good government is its aptitude and tendency to produce a good administration." This essay places this definition into historical context by comparing the national government of today to the principles laid out in the Federalist Papers.