Unitary Executive

Remember the words of Article I: All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Unitary Executive

Compare to Article II:The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.

Unitary Executive

Remember the words of Article I: All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Compare to Article II:The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.

Unitary Executive

Does that mean the President has only the powers granted by the Constitution -- or unlimited executive authority?

Unitary Executive

Consider this quote from a U.S. Dept of Justice lawyer defending Bush’s actions in 2006:

“The president is always right.”

Unitary Executive

For 200 years, presidents of all parties have taken steps to expand their power.

Unitary Executive

1798The Adams administration used the Sedition Act only against newspaper writer who supporter Thomas Jefferson, his opponent.

Unitary Executive

1832President Andrew Jackson openly defied the Supreme Court’s decision in Worcester v. Georgia.

Unitary Executive

Civil WarPresident Lincoln took on unprecedented wartime powers and suspended civil liberties, including due process for citizens.

Unitary Executive

World War IPresident Wilson suppressed free speech, deported immigrants on the basis of their political views, and ordered raids of political dissenters.

Unitary Executive

World War IIPresident Roosevelt issued the executive order calling for forced internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans.

Unitary Executive

1970sPresident Nixon used executive branch agencies to attack his political opponents and cover up his supporters’ criminal acts.

Unitary Executive

1990sPresident Clinton tried to argue that sitting judges are immune from lawsuits and passed the Line-Item Veto Act of 1996. (lost both time in the Supreme Court)

Unitary Executive

2000sPresident Bush issued 130 signing statements challenging 1,200 provisions of laws – a record. Most famous was the anti-torture bill.

Unitary Executive

TodayPresident Obama continues using signing statements to object to parts of laws.

Unitary Executive“Resolved, that the America Bar Association opposes, as contrary to the rule of law and our constitutional system of separation of powers, the issuance of presidential signing statements that claim the authority or state the intention to disregard or decline to enforce all or part of a law the President has signed…”