The president: Saviours of the people or tyrans

We've all dreamt of being president and planned on banning school, giving more vacations to students and giving more money to people. Obviously it isn't that easy. Indeed, the president incarnates a fundamental branch of a democratic political system: the executive branch. During the American Revolution, the Congress alone appeared to be more dangerous. Therefore, the executive power was reinstated to keep the Congress accountable of its actions. The second article of the Constitution is dedicated to the president. It limits and distribute power. The executive power is known for representing the country internationally and also addresses itself directly to its people.

Is the executive branch a threat to democracy in the USA? Is there any risk of abuse of power?

First thing is first, here are some steps to become a president in the USA. Ladies and gentlemen, take notes!

1. In order to become a president in the USA you must be a natural born citizen. This was a compromise instated during the Constitutional Convention because European monarchies such as France, Spain and mainly the UK were big threats to the new country

2. You must be elected by Representatives and Senators

3. You also must be 35 years old at least

4. You will serve a 4-year-term

The first president of the United States of America was George Washington (his name was given to the Washington DC's district). He stepped down after two terms and it became a presidential convention.

What are the main functions of a president?

A president must represent the country to the world, be the commander in chief of the army and approve or veto a law.

In the 19th Century the president had become a democratic figure. The presidential term of Abraham Lincoln was a turning point in that matter. His initiatives brought him closer to the people (especially the black community) to the point whereby he was even called the President of the Union.

The word of the presidents had become a rhetorical power and a strategy after Woodrow Wilson's presidential broadcasted speech in 1913. Ever since, presidents have used news press conference as a benign approach to influence the people and also as a transparency tactic by explaining their goals and future plans,

The institutionalisation of presidency

During World War II, presidency became an institution with rituals and traditions that were passed on to successors. For example, after a new president is elected in November, the transition takes place between 3 to 5 months.

The influence of a president is restricted because of the checks and balances system. In fact, a president can't do anything if the Congress isn't involved (it stands for the other way around as well).

To what extent do presidents have an executive power? Are they always transparent?

Being a president is not only an honour, it comes with big responsibilities and with responsibilities comes pride. It is a human response to want control. If there weren't any strategic political bias during presidential elections and the fear of greed were absent; then maybe -just maybe, all presidents would be transparent and would ensure that all peoples needs are met. Then the judicial and legislative branch would completely fall. Consequently, the American dream would no more be a dream... but a reality. Oh how beautiful would that be... hum hum

Unfortunately, it isn't the case here. Throughout time, presidents have shown themselves to be more or less transparent but ALL had personal interests and a partisan biases.

When president Roosevelt instated the New Deal (1933-1939) (:which is power of distribution), his will was to create a democratic institution with a new legislation and a new form of communication called the fire side chats. As the press was more conservative, he used the radio to directly communicate with the people.

President Roosevelt had as a main goal to centralise power in favour of a more decisive executive branch. As economic crisis occurred during his presidency he was reelected four times. His last term ended with his death in 1945. The tradition being that president serve for two terms only, the conventional 8 years term (at most since president Washington) was questioned. So in 1951 the 22nd amendment declared that presidents could only serve for two terms to prevent any abuse of power.

Over the period of World War II, emerged the "two presidency theories" and the imperial presidency.

The two presidencies theory

It is a term coined by the American political scientist Aaron Wildavsky in 1966. According to Wildavsky the president only has power in foreign affairs whereas the Congress is dominant and has power in domestic affairs.

Does that ring a bell?... Yep, it's giving the Queen of the UK and the Prime minister vibes.

The Imperial President

American Historian, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr, coined the term Imperial Presidency in 1973 to describe the initiative taken by the executive power to protect the country from a nuclear annihilation in the context of the Cold War. Power in that context was deemed better than responsibility and checks and balances weren't correctly applied.

Throughout time new techniques were set up to give more power to presidents.

The Administrative Presidency:

It consists in re-organising the executive office in the White House when the government is divided. The Watergate scandal is one of the biggest and most tangible demonstrations of the administrative presidency indeed Nixon taped the headquarters of the political opposition and every organization of the White House was made accordingly to the political opposition's plans.

Partisan presidency

It consists in the creation of programs for administration to pass executive orders and avoid checks and balances. It is a strategy that had been used by Reagan, Clinton, Bush and more recently President Obama.

With a partisan presidency, the executive branch does not represent two or more parties but only serves as a president for the party they put their faith in. Partisan presidency is also associated with the abuse and the will for power.

A great example of this to some extent is Donal Trumps presidency.

In the eyes of many, he did not guide the people towards solutions the Republican Party , Democratic Party and third parties too. He mostly served for the Republican Party. Although, within the Republican Party, he wasn't always adored, partisan polarisation (republicans v. democrats) solidified the Republican Party in power. The symbolism of the bully pulpit took a virtual dimension as social media and precisely, Twitter read became during his presidency, an unfiltered platform on which president Trump could speak to his supporters, threaten other countries and the people he deemed dangerous without asking for any advice from his team. It made him look more transparent, close to his supporters. He also used administrative strategies to execute orders and bypass legislation putting checks and balances that were supposed to protect the people of America, to doubt.

The executive branch is important in the American political system to protect the people from any legislative detrimental action. Also countered and influenced by the judicial and legislative branch, the presidents have shown throughout time that checks and balances have blind spots and legislation can be bypassed through media, administration, demagogy, political association and even dishonest means like the Watergate scandal during the Nixon presidency. All with the execution of orders and greed for power in view. More recently, Donald Trump set a record with two impeachment he came out on top of. If the legislative branch didn't provide enough checks and balances, what is of the Supreme Court?

You'll get the answer in the next article so stay tuned! See you soon :)))