Assignment

Let's talk about the presidency. Your book discusses the term "Imperial Presidency" coined by Arthur Schlesinger in his book from 1973, with regard to the presidency of Richard Nixon. While in recent times, both Presidents Bush and Obama have both been accused of being imperial presidents, the fact remains that presidents often use the powers of the presidency when Congress does not/will not act. Here is a list of executive orders by president over our nation's history.

Discussion Board, listen to this Intelligence Squared debate, "Has the President Usurped the Constitutional Power of Congress?" from June 2016 at MPR Presents. What was your opinion on this topic before listening to the debate and what is your opinion after? You can also reflect on the following questions in your response: How have the powers of the executive branch changed in the 20th and 21st centuries? In what periods were presidential powers on the rise and when did Congress step in to reign in the powers of the president? The example of the War Powers Act from your text illustrates well this tug-of-war between the legislative and executive branches. You can also reflect on the new administration's use of executive power in your response.