Congress Questions
A. Although Congress has far more enumerated powers in the Constitution than those of the presidency or the Supreme Court, a direct collision between the legislative branch and the other two branches can actively be seen today in the US government-- and the outcome of said collision is causing what most see as paralysis of the closest branch of government in relation to the citizens of the US. Combined with the division created by disagreements between the Republican and Democratic Party and the threat of Presidential vetoing, Congress is virtually unable to get anything accomplished despite its extensive proclaimed (and self-proclaimed) authority. While party control contributes to much of the gridlock that can be seen …show more content…
Beginning with Jackson, who endowed loyal followers with Presidential appointments, to Lincoln, who suspended Habeas Corpus and expanded the size of the army without consent from Congress, to Franklin Roosevelt, who created the socialistic New Deal programs to regulate the economy, the Presidency has grown in power and influence over the last hundred years. While the President is the “Commander in Chief”, Congress holds the power to declare war Constitutionally. So, since there technically has not been a war declared by Congress since WWII, it’s arguable that the Vietnam and Korean wars as well as the war with Iraq are prime examples of the Presidents overstepping their boundaries. A great deal of this shift in Presidential power can be attributed to crisis. Lincoln was able to ignore Congress during much of his time in office because of the Nation being divided during the Civil War. Had a weaker President be in office at the time of that crisis, the outcome and progression against slavery and the Civil War would have in turn also been weak. By disregarding Congress and sidestepping the powers granted to him in the Constitution, Lincoln was able to advance through the Civil
A. Although Congress has far more enumerated powers in the Constitution than those of the presidency or the Supreme Court, a direct collision between the legislative branch and the other two branches can actively be seen today in the US government-- and the outcome of said collision is causing what most see as paralysis of the closest branch of government in relation to the citizens of the US. Combined with the division created by disagreements between the Republican and Democratic Party and the threat of Presidential vetoing, Congress is virtually unable to get anything accomplished despite its extensive proclaimed (and self-proclaimed) authority. While party control contributes to much of the gridlock that can be seen …show more content…
Beginning with Jackson, who endowed loyal followers with Presidential appointments, to Lincoln, who suspended Habeas Corpus and expanded the size of the army without consent from Congress, to Franklin Roosevelt, who created the socialistic New Deal programs to regulate the economy, the Presidency has grown in power and influence over the last hundred years. While the President is the “Commander in Chief”, Congress holds the power to declare war Constitutionally. So, since there technically has not been a war declared by Congress since WWII, it’s arguable that the Vietnam and Korean wars as well as the war with Iraq are prime examples of the Presidents overstepping their boundaries. A great deal of this shift in Presidential power can be attributed to crisis. Lincoln was able to ignore Congress during much of his time in office because of the Nation being divided during the Civil War. Had a weaker President be in office at the time of that crisis, the outcome and progression against slavery and the Civil War would have in turn also been weak. By disregarding Congress and sidestepping the powers granted to him in the Constitution, Lincoln was able to advance through the Civil