Many of the founders were worried that the office of the President would gain too much power, so the authority of the presidency was limited in a variety of ways. In fact, the title "President" was chosen because, at the time, it did not carry weight and implied authority of "King" or "Monarch". Since then, however, the power of the presidency has expanded dramatically. There are a variety of reasons that the power of the presidency has expanded since the time of the founding, including changes to how presidents are elected, the expanded scope of activities undertaken by the federal government, the administrative power of the presidency, and the President's ability to communicate directly with the public. Discuss which of these factors were most important in expanding the powers of the presidency, and the pros and cons of the President having more power today than the founders originally intended.
The Administrative State: With Congress creating a vast bureaucracy (e.g., Social Security, the EPA, FDA) to regulate a complex, industrial economy and provide a social safety net, Congress was forced to delegate broad authority to the executive branch. This delegation means the President, as the head of the executive branch, now commands a massive network of agencies that create legally binding rules (rulemaking), effectively wielding quasi-legislative power.
2. Direct Communication with the Public (The Bully Pulpit)
The President's unique ability to communicate directly with the public has fundamentally changed the nature of executive influence, shifting the presidency from a primarily administrative role to a political and national leadership role.
"Going Public": Thanks to modern media (from radio and TV to social media), Presidents can bypass Congress and appeal directly to the American people to generate support for their policies. This public pressure is then brought to bear on Congress, giving the President a powerful informal leverage over the legislative process that the Founders did not anticipate.
National Figurehead: The President is the singular symbolic and political head of the nation, especially in foreign policy. This makes the President the natural focus of national attention and loyalty, amplifying their moral authority and political prestige.
Pros and Cons of Expanded Presidential Power
The expansion of presidential power has both benefited and harmed the function of American democracy.
Sample Answer
The factors most important in expanding the power of the U.S. presidency are the expanded scope of activities undertaken by the federal government and the President's ability to communicate directly with the public (the "Bully Pulpit").
Most Important Factors in Expanding Presidential Power
While all listed factors contributed, the following two have had the most transformative and enduring impact on the office:
1. Expanded Scope of Federal Activity (Most Significant)
The most critical driver of presidential power is the massive growth of the federal government's responsibilities since the founding.
Wars and Crises: Major events like the Civil War, the Great Depression, World Wars, and the Cold War (and the War on Terror) led to temporary grants of extraordinary power to the executive branch for quick, unified national action. Crucially, these powers were often not fully relinquished afterward, setting new precedents.