Jack Sartory

1/9/11

Government

Mr. Sanborn

Presidential Government

Throughout the course of American History, until FDR’s presidency, the federal

government can be described as congressional; however, the challenges of the depression

and WWII necessitated a change to a Federal Government led by the executive. This

theme is continued throughout the twentieth and early twenty first century. Nevertheless,

there is already a shift toward a congressional lead government in modern politics that I

predict will continue to grow.

The shift of power in the federal government is a recent event in the scale of

American history, only starting in the mid twentieth century. Although Presidents in the

past had exercised strong executive power in the past, Lincoln during the civil war for

example, no other President before FDR and the Great Depression had exercised such

unilateral power on a domestic issue. FDR used his power to spear head his response to

the Great Depression, the New Deal. The New Deal was almost completely designed by

Roosevelt without the help of Congress, and Roosevelt goes as far as to pack Federal

courts with his supporters in order to diminish the judicial branches power over the

executive. Soon after Roosevelt’s programs are in place WWII breaks out, and even more
executive power is needed to manage the country during war time. In the past after wars

were over, traditionally Congress took power back from the executive; however, after

WWII the executive branch retained a large portion of its power gained during the

previous decade largely due to the threat of the cold war. The cold war era of politics set

up a pattern of Congressional abdication, and Presidential usurpation which hits its peak

during the 1960’s under the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations, and then later

under Reagan.

However, after Reagan’s administration and the end of the cold war Congress

does reassert control over the government. This is until 9/11 and the passing of the Patriot

Act, when the Bush administration, along with Congress decided to give more executive

power to the President in the cause of national security. Recently however, under

President Obama we can see a shift in focus back to Congress as the main branch of

American politics. The increase in partisanship has shifted media focus to the legislative

branch giving it a bigger voice. This goes along with the proposal of large scale domestic

programs such as healthcare reform, which requires much debate in both houses in order

to pass and be effective. Although some of these programs are proposed by the President

he has been unable to force his original plan through unchanged. In this we see Congress

reasserting its power over the executive. As more reforms are proposed and partisanship

increases, Congress will only gravitate more to the center of the Federal Government.

Even though the framers intended the legislative branch to be the leading branch

in the Federal Government, the shift in power between the executive and legislative is not
a good or bad thing. The shift only represents changes in the needs of the country over

the course of its history. During times of crisis and insecurity the country has traditionally

been in favor of a stronger executive and been in favor of a stronger legislative during

times of prosperity. In my opinion the changes in government are necessary because a

healthy government needs to be able to adapt.