Expanding Powers Of Presidency The United States Government

Albert Jian PLSC 210 11AM Prompt 2 April 11th, 2016 Professor Armitage Expanding Powers of Presidency The President is regarded as the most powerful individual in the United States government nowadays, with powers expressed in the constitution or congressional act, inferred from the constitution, or assumed by himself. While the executive branch appears the most powerful at current times, most framers had thought that legislative branch would possess the most power. In The Federalist No. 51, James Madison expressed his concerns in the inequalities between the three branches; particularly, he stated that, â€Å"[i]n republican government, the legislative authority necessarily predominates†. Most framers did not foresee a future with strong†¦show more content†¦Presidents asserted inherent powers that were inferred from the constitution to expand their powers. Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution states that the president â€Å"shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed†. The clause is known as the take care clause, which many presidents used to extract more powers from. In the famous case of Louisiana Purchase in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson signed a treaty with France to purchase Louisiana at a high price of $15 million dollars. As a strong anti-federalist, Jefferson performed such a federalist action that simply surpassed the restrictions of constitution on executive branch. Yet, Jefferson defended himself of his action that: â€Å"strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation†. Jefferson also argued that the purchase is crucial to United States national security by avoiding a war. Most federalists in Congress chided at his ultra-federalist approach in the purchase and saw the action as a political opportunity as it discredit Jefferson and his power. Since most Americans and Congress agreed with his actions, there were no negative con sequences to Jefferson’s improper use of his presidential power. Louisiana Purchase thus became a precedent in presidential power on