Imperial+Presidency

=__**The Imperial Presidency**__= The concept of the Imperial Presidency first came about during the 1960's, and was later made popular by historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., after he wrote a book on the subject entitled __The Imperial Presidency. __ It is a term used to describe the modern executive branch, and the unconstitutional powers the office has gained since the early 1900’s. The book itself was written as a result of Schlesinger's observations of recent Presidents of his time, including Nixon, Coolidge, and Roosevelt, and commented in particular on abuses of executive power in regards to the armed forces. Recently, the Imperial Presidency term has come into usage once again following the George W. Bush administration, which took many actions qualifying it as an Imperial Presidency.

__**The Imperial Presidency is classified by two main ideas.**__ The Presidency has gone past its constitutional boundaries.

 * 1) The President wields an enormous amount of power. Vetoing bills in of itself invests an enormous amount of power in the president. As the number of staff members has increased, so has the amount of people with personal loyalties to the president, thus increasing the influence the president has over his cabinet even further. The constitutional boundaries of the president do not restrict them, because of the powers that the president invokes are often "executive" in nature. From "executive orders" to "executive privilege" the president invokes many powers not granted them in the constitution. During Nixon's presidency, the use of executive privilege to conceal the contents of tapes recorded in the oval office was specifically declared unconstitutional, yet both president Bush and Obama have invoked it on several occasions, usually when concerning the military.
 * 2) The President is abusing his powers.
 * 3) Even though the president has many powers inherent through the constitution, the extent to which he stretches them is often called into question. George W. Bush is one example of that. Bush is often though of as an Imperial president as his presence in the Middle-East was unprecedented and unsupported with such ferment in his two term presidency. Many conflicts were not officially wars, as they were on terrorists, and not quite a political group. The decades of war far surpassed the few months that a president is allowed to have non-verified presence in a foreign country on a military basis.

__** Requirements for being an Imperial President **__

 * When appointing Cabinet Members and other Executive Official, the Senate does not gain a say in the decision
 * Excessive abuse of the military
 * Extension of the war powers
 * Used powers surpass that of the Constitution
 * Branch is expanded under presidential term to a more powerful size

__**Examples of Imperial Presidents**__
Many conflicts were not officially wars, as they were on terrorists, and not quite a political group. The decades of war far surpassed the few months that a president is allowed to have non-verified presence in a foreign country on a military basis.


 * George W. Bush **
 * Bush is often thought of as an Imperial president as his presence in the Middle-East was unprecedented and unsupported with such ferment in his two term presidency.
 * Many conflicts were not officially wars, as they were on terrorists, and not quite a political group. The decades of war far surpassed the few months that a president is allowed to have non-verified presence in a foreign country on a military basis.
 * Bush also made 171 recess appointments to avoid Congressional Approval/ Disapproval of the Appointments.


 * Richard Nixon **
 * Considered one of the most Imperial of the Imperial Presidents, Nixon’s abuse of American troops in Indochina during the Vietnam War created a huge resentment and disapproval in the public image.
 * Unannounced to Congress, Nixon also ordered the invasion of Cambodia and Laos, also, extensive bombing raides were brought to Laos and Cambodia, creating an extension not only to the front lines, wounded, and supply chains, but also to the monetary detriment back home.
 * Nixon used the bugging devices planted in the oval office to spy on conversation, a clear violation of rights to information in the Constitution
 * With clear violations of both international human rights and the Constitution in his illegal bombings of Laos, and the passing of the War Powers Act of 1973 to limit such abuses following his term, he is rightfully considered an Imperial President.


 * Truman **
 * During World War II, Truman used the National Guard to detain any Japanese-American citizens in the west coast on the grounds that they were potential spies for the Empire of Japan. This executive order was unauthorized by Congress and was borderline illegal to do, but wartime powers made it more of a conflict of interests between appeasing public, and maintaining safety.
 * After the World War, the foreign policy made by Truman, the Truman Doctrine, was an economic and military support of Greece and Turkey to avoid falling to Communism. It was a huge statement against communism and the threat of the Soviet Union, and represented the power Truman had by the end of his presidency.
 * Without the consent of Congress, Truman sent military intervention into Korea. The War lasted three years since its inception in 1950, far longer than the given limit of military presence without Congress voting on a continuation.
 * Fearing that steel companies would not comply with the Korean war, Truman bypassed Congress and seized these companies, making them work under his conditions without knowing whether or not they would comply.
 * Truman also increased the Armed Forces more than was necessary for the Korean War, giving more bargaining power as a President, and made the Congress seem less of a capable force.


 * Coolidge **
 * Involved with the Second Occupation of Nicaragua in the late 20s. Cesar Augusto Sandino’s hostile influence in Nicaragua was threatening the United States, Sandino officially ‘declared war’ on the United States, and threatened with terrorist attacks.
 * Coolidge did not take it by Congress to become involved with Nicaragua, but rather invaded, helped La Guardia to suppress Sandino.


 * Roosevelt **
 * Roosevelt had a big stick policy, but he became too comfortable with using it. During his presidency from 1901-1909, Roosevelt forced many Central American and Caribbean Regions to form governments without the Congressional Approval, or the other countries approval.
 * Also, Roosevelt strong-armed Columbia into separating with Panama so that Roosevelt could finish the canal, which Columbia did not want to go through. Eventually, Columbia split, and Roosevelt made the native people of Panama construct the canal.
 * He also dumped an unprecedented amount of money into building the canal in order to better his reelection chances. The fiscal irresponsibility was never verified by Congress, but still managed to happen.
 * It is also the job of the legislative branch to create national parks, but Roosevelt took it upon himself to establish a few

__**Vocabulary**__ -
//imperial presidency -// a term created by Arthur M. Schlesinger describing a presidency which enhances the powers of the President and uses the power of the executive office to carry out unconstitutional actions //executive powers -// the constitutional powers of the President, which include faithfully executing the laws passed by Congress and acting as the civilian Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces //War Powers Act of 1973// - an important law passed following the Nixon Administration which was the first real retaliation by Congress towards the growing power of the Presidency, which limited the powers of the President in terms of the military

**__Section Review Questions__**
1. Who wrote the book, __The Imperial Presidency?__ a) Arthur M. Schlesinger b) Walter White c) Matthew Swanson d) Larry Sabato

2. Who among the following is not an example of an Imperial President?

a) Harry S. Truman

b) Theodore Roosevelt

c) James Madison

d) Richard Nixon 3. Which of the following actions would constitute the actions of an Imperial President?

a) Signing a bill into law

b) Delivering the State of the Union Address

c) Playing golf with a member of an opposing party

d) Using troops in an illegal police action

4. What was the effect of the War Powers Act of 1973?

a) Created a system for keeping World Powers in the United Nations

b) Granted the Presidency informal powers not stated in the Constitution during times of war

c) Wrote a “blank check” for the president to use during the Vietnam War

d) Issued a draft for the increase in power of the Armed Forces

5. Which of the following are examples of actions presidents took that reflect their imperial presidency?

I. Coolidge support of big businesses

II. The Truman Doctrine

III. Nixon entering the Vietnam War

IV. Roosevelt’s creation of national parks

a) II & IV only

b) I & III only

c) I, II, & IV

d) I, II, III, & IV 6. Which states the president must pull troops out after 60 days of conflict without Congressional Approval?

a) Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution

b) Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution

c) The War Powers Resolution 1973

d) The Eighteenth Amendment

**__Current Media__ -**
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-viewpoint/012513-642093-court-rules-obama-violated-constitution-recess-appointment.htm?p=full This article details how on several occasions Obama as bypassed Congress to promote his own agenda. For example, on one occasion Congress defeated Obama's "card check" ploy that was backed by union workers, and he soon announced "snap elections" that essentially had the same goals, but was able to be enacted. He also significantly hurt the No Child Left Behind Law, because he gave waivers to any states that followed the educational reforms that he enacted.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304141204577506881495497626.html This article is another person's commentary on Obama's Presidency and their reasoning on why they believe he is a Imperial president.

Works Cited: http://majorityleader.gov/TheImperialPresidency/

"The Imperial Presidency: Implications for Economic Growth & Job Creation." //Majority Leader Eric Cantor //. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

Wolfensberger, Donald R. //JSTOR //. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

"The Imperial Presidency Revisited." //Washington Post //. N.p., 05 July 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.