Presidential Power Dbq

Many historians believe that the power of the President has decreased over time. This assumption usually results from the President’s inability to line item veto, or rejecting individual provisions of a bill. However, after much reevaluation, many other historians argue that the power of the president has increased over time because of his unique powers that he does not share with Congress. A key role model during this increase of power is Andrew Jackson, symbolizing the expandment of presidential authority due to his significant enlargement of the use of vetoes. Mandates, or official orders from the President to do something, also symbolize an independent expansion of presidential power. Although the President cannot line item veto, the power …show more content…
During wartime, the country entered a desperate and hopeless state, handing the majority of the authority to the president, allowing them to then make decisions freely that they think would best benefit the United States. For example, a domestic crisis, known as the Situation in Little Rock, occurred in 1957 when whites withheld African Americans from safely entering their new school, due to a bunch of demonstrators protesting interracial education. Document F shows how this inefficiency then allowed Dwight D. Eisenhower to use his power to issue a mandate, commanding the mob to disperse once again (Document F). By trying to maintain peace, Eisenhower had been given more authority to make sure the mob would disperse and the violence would cease. Also. another domestic crisis, known as 9/11, occurred in 2001 when terrorist planes crashed into the twin towers, killing many innocent bystanders. This gave George W. Bush authority to install tighter security at airports and shut down all flights for the time being. His control over air travel further expands the power of the President, due to America being in a desperate state at the time. Additionally, international crisis, as well as domestic crisis, gives the President more power to decide the procedures taken to reassure the safety of all Americans. One specific crisis, occurring in 1962 regards the Cuban Missile Crisis. As shown in Document G, his event allows John F. Kennedy to address the Soviet Premier Khrushev about the missiles in Cuba and ask for them to be taken down, in order to ease world tensions (Document G). This shows how the presidential power expands over time because the President has permission to communicate with other country’s leaders and make compromises to reassure the safety of Americans. Wartime expands the authority of the president over time because it allows the president to make independent choice