Evolution of Presidential Power

War Power

• Neither the Korean or Vietnam War were declared wars by Congress

• Presidents have continued to commit the military without informing the Congress:Grenada, Somalia, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Factors leading to strong presidency

• What factors have led to a strong 20th century president?

Factors leading to strong presidency

• What factors have led to a strong 20th century president?

• Media• Globalization• Growth of government• Technology• Economics

Evolution

• Jefferson Louisiana Purchase, without Congressional approval

Evolution

• Jefferson Louisiana Purchase, without Congressional approval

• Jackson Jacksonian Democracy (people’s

president)

Evolution

• Jefferson Louisiana Purchase, without Congressional approval

• Jackson Jacksonian Democracy (people’s

president) • Lincoln Continental empire demands imperial

presidency

Evolution

• Jefferson Louisiana Purchase, without Congressional approval

• Jackson Jacksonian Democracy (people’s president) • Lincoln Continental empire demands imperial presidency • FDR Depression spawns massive governmental

(presidential) bureaucracy

Evolution

• Jefferson Louisiana Purchase, without Congressional approval • Jackson Jacksonian Democracy (people’s president) • Lincoln Continental empire demands imperial presidency • FDR Depression spawns massive governmental (presidential)

bureaucracy • Nixon Power grab and backlash of congress – War Powers Act

(1973)

Evolution• Jefferson Louisiana Purchase, without Congressional approval • Jackson Jacksonian Democracy (people’s president) • Lincoln Continental empire demands imperial presidency • FDR Depression spawns massive governmental (presidential)

bureaucracy • Nixon Powergrab and backlash of congress – War Powers Act (1973) • Clinton Globalization pres (Kosovo bombed w/o Congress’s approval)

Evolution• Jefferson Louisiana Purchase, without Congressional approval • Jackson Jacksonian Democracy (people’s president) • Lincoln Continental empire demands imperial presidency • FDR Depression spawns massive governmental (presidential) beaucracy • Nixon Powergrab and backlash of congress – War Powers Act (1973) • Clinton Globalization pres (Kosovo bombed w/o Congress’s approval) • Bush II Terrorism creates national security president with wide powers

Evolution• Jefferson Louisiana Purchase, without Congressional approval • Jackson Jacksonian Democracy (people’s president) • Lincoln Continental empire demands imperial presidency • FDR Depression spawns massive governmental (presidential) beaucracy • Nixon Powergrab and backlash of congress – War Powers Act (1973) • Clinton Globalization pres (Kosovo bombed w/o Congress’s approval) • Bush II Terrorism creates national security president with wide powers

• Obama National economic crisis gives pres. widest powers since Truman

What’s next?