Discuss the increase and decrease of presidential powers. Define "Imperial Presidency" and give two examples of presidents who increased presidential power. What is an advantage and disadvantage of increasing presidential power

Today, the presidency has dominant force in national policy formation, not all domestic policy springs from the White House but none is made without the involvement of the president, when it relates to foreign policy and, security policy, there can be little doubt about presidential primacy. Congress retains the constitutional power to declare war, but the power has not been exercised in sixty-five years. During this period American military forces have been engaged in numerous conflicts all over the world at the instruction of the president. It is a fact that presidential power has expanded exponentially over time. The extent of this growth, however, is not fully valued. At the time of framing, Madison, among others, believed the legislature was the most powerful branch, and as a result, he encouraged the creation of a bicameral legislature. Congress was required to be divided into two branches so that it would not engulf the other branches. The executive needed to be unitary to ensure it is not weakened in its clash with the legislature. Two hundred years later, any suggestion that Congress is twice as powerful as the executive would be deemed absurd. Particularly in the areas of national security and foreign affairs, the Presidency has become the far more pwerful. The position of Presidency has become too powerful in the areas of national security and foreign affairs.

Imperial Presidency is a term used to describe the moderm presidency of the USA which became popular i the 1960's and it refers to a U. S. presidency that is characterized by greater power than the Constitution allows.

Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson each expanded the powers of the presidency. Roosevelt worked closely with Congress, sending it messages defining his legislative powers. He also took the lead in developing the international power of the United States.

The advantage of increasing presidential power are

A

It was historian Arthur M. Schlesinger who made the term 'imperial presidency' popular. He used it to describe the evolution of the 'modern day president'.

Imperial Presidency refers to the exercise by the presidency of United States, more powers than the constitution allows.

Schlesinger contended that the expansion and abuses of the presidential office were so profound by 1972, that it made of no relevance of effect the traditional checks and balances of the constitutional system.

This let him to conclude that the imperial presidency emerged due to the aggregation of presidential 'war powers' that were primarily acquired in response to America's participation in twentieth century wars.

B

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th president of the United States, and was at that time regard as the epitome of an Imperial Presidency.

In recent times it's been alluded that under the Obama era, "stonewalling" from Congress "provoked the Obama administration into finding innovative ways to exercise power," thus making Obama "one of the most powerful presidents ever.

In politics, stonewalling is used to decline answering or commenting on certain questions about policy and issues, especially if the committee or politician in question is under investigation.

C

One clear merit to the political condition of Presidential Imperialism is that, it allows the office of the president to carry out the responsibility to conduct ongoing wars and ongoing foreign relations, and to respond to sudden attacks if Congress were not in session. As the United States became a great world power and then a superpower, the presidency acquired more war powers despite the Constitution.

One clear demerit of the idea of Presidential Imperialism is the potential to abuse power.

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