2.6 - expansion of presidential power

how have presidents interpreted and explained their use of formal and informal powers?

since the creation of the office, Americans have expected (more/less) of the president

more

what are some things the role and powers of the presidency is shaped by?

• article II

• 5 constitutional amendments

• federal law

• SCOTUS decisions

• customs and traditions

• precedents

what are some things that happen through history to shape the president’s role

unforeseen circumstances and events

globalization, industrialization

imperial presidency definition

a US presidency that is characterized by greater powers than the constitution allows

powerful executive, weak congress

imperial presidency

describe george washington’s presidency

faithfully carried out constitutional acts, not many vetoes, started a two term precedent

who are two presidents who expanded presidential power and how did they do it?

hint: A & A

andrew jackson- vetoes, forceful, opposition to natl bank

abraham lincoln- end habeas corpus, seize property, suppress newspapers

(to save union tho)

who are two presidents that stretched presidential power in the name of advancing the nation in the early 1900s?

woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt 

who is someone that strengthened the role of the presidency in the name of helping to mend and help and rebuild the nation?

how’d he do it?

franklin delano roosevelt

tried to court pack, new deal programs intensified involvement of federal government into american lives

who is kind of the reason for the 22nd amendment and the one that finally broke the precedent?

FDR

he served 4 terms but died shortly into the fourth

stewardship theory

an approach to governing presuming that the president has a duty to act in national interests, unless the action is clearly prohibited by the constitution

basically saying that the president should exercise as much power as possible to take care of the American people

who said “i have used every power there was in the office”?

what vocab word does it tie into?

theodore roosevelt

stewardship theory

22nd amendment

ratified in 1951

prevents president from serving more than 2 consecutive terms, or a total of 10 years in office

in the 22nd amendment, why is it 10 years in office instead of 8?

incase a president dies and a VP supersedes him. that VP could still serve two more terms

war powers act of 1973

president can order the military into combat 48 hours before informing Congress

in turn, Congress has 60 days to vote on the military action; if they don’t like it the troops have to come back

how does the war powers act of 1973 both protect and limit the president’s military power as the commander in chief?

protects the fact that in an emergency or a pinch, the president can make a military decision to protect our country

but also keeps the president in check and Congress in the loop to have checks and balances

what does alexander Hamilton argue in federalist no. 70?

why investing power into the presidency will not threaten the liberty of Americans, instead it would provide a way to protect individual rights

strong central executive!

why, according to Hamilton, will a strong presidency be beneficial to the people?

protects us from foreign attack, executes laws better, protects property, secure liberty in trade, protects against assaults of ambition, faction, and anarchy

what does Hamilton say will happen if we have a weak executive branch?

we’d be more vulnerable

feeble, weak executive = bad gov

why does Hamilton state this?

b/c we would be more vulnerable and laws and protection would not be executed

in federalist no 70, what are the 4 ingredients Hamilton said are important to a successful presidency?

unity, duration, support, competent powers

why does Hamilton say having a single person executive versus a committee would be better in federalist no 70?

b/c committees take a long time to debate

we need action, getting things done

debate should be reserved for legislative