imperial presidency

• • An imperial president has significant power over foreign policy, including deploying armed forces.
  • Checks and balances fail to effectively limit an imperial president.
  • An imperial president expands the Executive Office with staff not subject to Senate confirmation.
  • Accountability is through impeachment or election.
  • They often operate in secrecy and may engage in illegal activities.
• An imperial presidency refers to a situation where the president has excessive power, often bypassing checks and balances, and acting without sufficient oversight
• Against imperial presidency

  • Executive controls, like the Government Accountability Office, were introduced after Nixon’s presidency.
  • The Executive Office is a small part of the Federal Bureaucracy.
  • Executive Office members change with each president, limiting continuity.
• Agaisnt imperial presidency

  • Presidents acting illegally have been forced to resign (e.g., Nixon after Watergate).
  • The presidency is sometimes seen as ‘imperilled’ due to Congressional limits on presidential power.
  • The 1973 War Powers Act requires presidential approval from Congress to use armed forces.