24, titled "The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered", is a political essay written by Alexander Hamilton and the twenty-fourth of The Federalist Papers.

24 challenged those who wish to prohibit a standing army in peacetime, arguing that its formation is essential for the security of the nation while concerns about its existence are exaggerated.

Publius challenges the idea that the proposed constitution should prohibit standing armies in peacetime, calling it a mere assertion without strong justifications.

He explains that neither premise is true: no such provision would require a standing army and levying of soldiers is a power granted to the legislature.

Continuing with his hypothetical newcomer to the debate, Publius suggests that this person would be surprised to find that only two state constitutions had such a provision and that the Articles of Confederation had none.

He expresses his preference for trained soldiers, saying that constantly raising militias would disturb the families of militiamen and interrupt men engaged in more industrious pursuits.

[3] During the 18th century, standing armies in peacetime were unpopular among proponents of civic republicanism, and they were often seen as a challenge to liberty, leading to a preference for militias to serve as soldiers only when necessary.

[8] Hamilton further warned against complacence because European powers were far away, saying that advances in naval technology allowed distant nations to operate as if they were neighbors.

[3] A standing army in peacetime has since become a widely accepted concept in the United States, including both active duty soldiers and military reserve forces.