4 ms·
They answer to the people eventually, but while in office they wield powers unknown in our (British) system since the time of George III. And I mean that quite
by simonh 4y ago
They answer to the people eventually, but while in office they wield powers unknown in our (British) system since the time of George III. And I mean that quite literally. The US president is essentially an elected British King circa 1789. They literally copied the constitutional role of the king point by point with a few minor alterations. The power to convene and dissolve parlia...er...congress, executive decrees are royal decrees, the veto on legislation, command of the armed forces, the power to pardon convicts, proroguation. Not exactly cutting edge constitutional innovation I'm afraid. We've moved on, but in some ways the US still stuck in the 18th Century.
- dghlsakjg 4y agoYou have an overly expansive view of presidential powers. The Congress does not answer to the president. It is an independent institution. It does not convene and dissolve by presidential request. Executive orders can be over-ruled by either of the other two branches of government Veto power can be over-ruled by the congress. Until recently, presidents needed congressional approval to make war. Now we skip that part and just don't call it a war.
- simonh 4y ago>It does not convene and dissolve by presidential request. And yet Article 2 Section 3 exists. Constitutional convention copy machine go Brrr. However I did exaggerate slightly for satirical effect. Maybe I should have just said "some alterations".