Question

United States Politics and Government

1. How have recent presidents expanded their powers? *

Answer 1

The 21st Century dawned on a very different presidency than the one created at the end of the 1700's. Because the Constitution gave the President such limited power, Congress dominated the executive branch until the 1930's. Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson each expanded the powers of the presidency. Roosevelt worked closely with Congress, sending it messages defining his legislative powers. Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.The Congress may determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes which Day shall be the same throughout the United States. The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of 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; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.The President was given the power to make treaties with foreign nations, but not without the advice and consent of the Senate.  With only a few exceptions, Presidents played second fiddle to Congress for many years. So, the powers of the modern presidency have been shaped by a combination of constitutional and evolutionary powers. .