Presidential Powers

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the executive branch of government has slowly and steadily provided itself with increasing amounts of power for the past five years, since September 11. The paper looks at three options that would curtail the presidential powers. The paper maintains that the best scenario is to have the power and responsibility of homeland security moved entirely to the National Guard with a mandate that the three executive branches of government have to approve of and sign off on any decision to declare war.

Outline:
Introduction
How It Happened
How To Get It Done
How To Do It
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"From the inception of America, society has held the executive branches of government responsible for its use of power. There have always been checks and balances in place to prevent one branch from having more power than the other branches with respect to their place(Ginsberg), however the events of 9-11 has created many changes in governmental power and today many grass roots groups are concerned that the presidential executive branch has worked to provide itself with an unbalanced amount of power. Today the executive branch has a significant amount of influence and power over the other governmental branches. This was done in a step by step process using America's fear and anger at being attacked on American soil, but the end result was an overabundance of power being given to the presidential office without anyone for it to answer to."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bonta, Steve (2002) The Emerging Police State: With the threat of terrorism as a convenient cover, the push is on to centralize police-state powers in the hands of a strong executive branch. The New American
• Cornell, Clayton (2005) Need for re-balancing? Presidents, national security powers, and the constitution.(Presidential War Power, 2nd ed.; The President's Authority over Foreign Affairs: An Essay in Constitutional Interpretation) Presidential Studies Quarterly
• Gibson, Gail (2006) 3 federal branches clash over powers: Congress, U.S. courts aim to strike greater balance with executive. Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD)
• Inskeep, Steve (2006) House Holds Hearing on Executive Branch Powers Morning Edition (NPR)
• Theodore J. Lowi, Benjamin Ginsberg You can use "American Government", 9th edition by, Kenneth A. Shepsle, as one of the sources.

More papers on Presidential Powers:

• Term Paper # 124669 : "Presidential Powers"
• Term Paper # 149923 : "The Limits on Presidential Powers"
• Book Review # 119798 : "Neustadt and Sources of Presidential Power"

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