1. Topic 2.6 Expansion of Presidential Power
Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government

2. Growth of the Executive Office
Presidents used to be more subordinate to Congress
Great Depression and World War II increased the responsibility, stature, and power of the office on a domestic and global scale
The Modern Presidency
(1) initiates legislation
(2) more delegated powers granted by Congress
Trade policy; war-making
(3) now the focus of public attention
(4) large staff directly working for president
Executive Office of the President (advisors)
Economic Advisors; National Security Counsel
President’s staff – loyal to him and his agenda

3. Presidential Appointments
Cabinet
Heads of the 15 major executive departments
Require Senate confirmation
Can be removed by the president at any time
Ambassadors
White House staff
President’s closes assistants & aids with offices in the White House
No Senate confirmation
Personally loyal to the president
Federal Judges
A president’s longest lasting influence is his/her life-tenured judicial appointments

4. The growth of the presidency
The framers feared the President could become too strong
Intended for Congress to be the strongest branch

5. Federalist No. 70 Argued in favor of a unitary executive
Hamilton argues that giving 1 person the executive power is actually safer than giving it to a group of people.
We know that the framers were very concerned about the concentration of power, so what logic do you think Hamilton could use to justify his argument?
Read Federalist No. 70 to find out!

6. Unitary Executive Theory
Different perspectives on the presidential role, ranging from a limited to a more expansive interpretation and use of power, continue to be debated in the context of contemporary events
Based on the audio clip, describe Unitary Executive Theory.
Do you think presidents should be as powerful as Mr. Yoo asserts?
Unitary Executive Theory