Imperialv

Imperilled

Imperial Presidency

• Growth of federal power – New Deal • U.S. World’s policeman – foreign policy now largely the domain of the president and Congress usually defers to the White House in this area• The Nixon presidency (1968 -1974) generally seen as the culmination of the growth of presidential power• Schlesinger called this the ‘imperial presidency’ in 1973• Because of this growth it contained more possibility for abuse – which happened during Vietnam War, Cambodia and the Watergate scandal

Why?

Imperilled Presidency• Increasing congressional resources to make Congress more

effective in oversight, such as setting up Congressional Budget Office

• Passing the Case Act of 1972, forcing the president to inform Congress of all executive agreements made with other states

• Allowing the passage of the War Powers Resolution in 1973 (vetoed by Nixon but overridden), restricting, in theory, the president’s powers to commit troops into hostilities.

• Passing the budget & Impoundment Control Act in 1974 to prevent the president from impounding money agreed by Congress

• The threat of impeachment leading to resignation of ‘imperial’ president.

Why?