THE GROWTH OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER

Libertyville High School

Structure of the Constitution Article I makes Congress

strong17 enumerated powersCommerce ClauseNecessary and Proper Clause

Founding fathers intended Congress to be strongest branch of government – why?B/c it represented the people!

Article II much more vagueOnly seven enumerated powers

Growth in Presidential Power Why has presidential

power grown?Unity of officeStrong willed presidents

○ Washington; Lincoln; FDR; Reagan

Growing public expectationsWar time = power to

president as C in CCongressional delegationGrowth of Federal

GovernmentPresident’s use of “bully

pulpit”

Limits on Presidential Power

ConstitutionArticle II’s enumerated

powers limit authority of president to those 7 pwrs

But presidents argue for “executive powers” of presidency (exec. orders)

Precedent (past actions) set by other presidents (ex. signing statements)

State of the unionThenAnd Now

Limits on Executive Power

CongressSets policy, makes

laws (designed to be strongest branch)

BUT what if they delegate their authority away to the President, for political reasons? (war powers)

Limits on Executive Power US Supreme Court

Interprets ConstitutionBut someone must file

a case to get the judicial branch involved

And who appoints US Supreme Court Justices, and all other federal judges?

How Should America be Governed?

Strong Executive, Weak Congress?

Strong Congress, Weak Executive?

Strong Executive, Strong Congress (with lots of conflict)?