The Expansion of the Power of the Presidency
Activity #1 Expanding Presidential Power
To what extent have presidents used past and/or current crises, to expand executive authority? How so?
Activity #2: What did the founder originally intend?
Below are excerpts from Article II of the US Constitution that describe the office of the president as the framers saw it in 1787, as well as a couple of amendments that we have since added that affect the executive branch.For each line, identify what you believe to be the intended purpose of this clause and how it has shaped the office of the president (its effect). The first one has been completed for you as an example... (Feel free to copy and paste the prompts to your notebook)
- The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term
Purpose: To allow presidents time to implement policies, but still hold them accountable by requiring election/reelection every 4 years.
- No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
- The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
- He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States
- He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper.
Purpose:
- No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice (22nd Amendment)
Effect:
- Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or Congress that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President (25th Amendment)
