Politics with Paul #18: Expansion of Presidential Power and Controversies

Key Points

• The Framers of the Constitution debated heavily over what the chief executive of the federal government has the power to do, ultimately settling on one person, indirectly elected by the public, and called the president.
• Presidential power in the US has significantly expanded over time, which has led to some debate as to what powers a US president can and should have and whether they have overstepped their bounds on numerous occasions.
• Most presidents have used their power and prestige in a meaningful way, but scholars often highlight presidents like Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt in particular in this regard.
• Controversies surrounding presidential power include use of executive orders, whether they have usurped Congress' war powers, and how far presidents can go in making recess appointments.