Lecture 8: Rise of the Imperial Presidency

Question 1

what did the constitutional powers fear (branch) and hwy

Answer 1

feared executive power (most likely to expand, to become conspiratorial, and become abusive)

Question 2

what was the solution of a fear of the executive

Answer 2

• Original Constitutional Solution: Assign largely unspecified and symbolic powers to the presidency,
o // Article 19 = Flexible (weak vs strong president wanted by federalist vs anti)
= reactive powers

Question 3

what r two key influences on the expansion of presidential power

Answer 3

rise of mass media

post war economic expansion/war power

Question 4

what does the rise of mm guarentee

Answer 4

o Guarantees personalisation politics

= preseident= symbol of politics

Question 5

what does the symbolic role of president as face of politics mean

Answer 5

 Image credibility: trustworthy political voice
 Allows president to put voice above congress via media
• Magnifies president agenda
• Reversing initial constitutional intention of reactive to initiating role
• Places congress on back foot
• Leverage public authority to pressure other branches

Question 6

original constitutional solution to war powers

Answer 6

President power to initiate defensive war (to defend nation) and to be Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces; Congress power to initiate offensive war/power to declare war

Question 7

deployment of troops stat

Answer 7

• US troops have been deployed overseas over 150 times
• War has been declared by Congress only 5 times
o Example: Donald Trump: US cruise missile attack on Syrian air force base