Federalist 78: “The Citadel of the Public Justice and the Public Security” | Hamilton on Judicial Review and Terms of Judicial Office

We typically organize these podcasts around three big ideas – here are three big ideas concerning Federalist 78. 

Big idea one: in Federalist 78 Hamilton defended the notion that the tenure of federal judges should be relative to a standard of good behavior, and associated that standard with the independence of the judiciary.  

Big idea two: in Federalist 78 Hamilton defended the claim that the judiciary is the least powerful – least dangerous – of the three branches. 

Big idea three: in Federalist 78 Hamilton defended the idea that the judiciary ought to be the body that determines whether laws are constitutional.