The Presidency

The general trend is that the president has gained more power over time. In the early republic, most presidents thought their main job was to carry out Congress’s wishes. Starting in the early twentieth century, presidents saw themselves as leading actors in American politics. During the Great Depression and World War II, FDR dramatically expanded the power of the presidency. Presidents in recent years have continued to be very powerful.

The veto is a powerful tool because few vetoes are overridden. The president can stop Congress from enacting a law.

The “imperial presidency” is the view that the president has become too strong and is a threat to democracy.