The Imperial Presidency

[J_William_Ryan]

1. The Imperial Presidency

It’s true that the Framers had a blind spot with regard to political parties, where the rise of parties eroded and undermined the ability of the legislative and judicial to check the executive.

Indeed, it was the intent of the Framers that the executive – although co-equal to the other two branches of government – be ‘less co-equal,’ that the president would serve solely as an administrator, devoid of a partisan agenda.

The rise of the Imperial Presidency and advocacy of unitary executive dogma since the post-war period established the foundation for the potential and capricious authoritarian abuse of power by presidents.

The wrongheaded assumption was that presidents would use their unlimited power and authority in accordance with the law and Constitution, a kind of benevolent dictator, failing to anticipate the ignorance and stupidity of the voters to install the likes of Trump in the White House – a wannabe despot and autocrat.