This essay is about how Andrew Jackson expanded limits and enhanced powers for the presidency.

Essay by p4d4w@n_lInKHigh School, 10th grade March 2004

download word file, 3 pages 4.3

tAndrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States and during his presidency he did things that were considered morally and traditionally out of bounds. Many of these things have had a lasting impact on the presidency and the rest of the executive branch to this day. Some examples of those things were new reasons for the use of the power of veto, his attitude towards executive branch office holders who disagreed with him, and his overall strong actions while in office. These three examples are the main reasons why Jackson is considered not to have overstepped his limits but expanded them, and not abused but enhanced presidential power.

A prime example of how Jackson expanded limits and enhanced presidential power is the free usage of his power of veto against congress. Jackson used the veto whenever he personally disagreed with any billhat congress had just passed, as opposed to his predecessors, who only vetoed a bill if they believed it was unconstitutional.

Moreover, he vetoed twelve times total during his two terms holding office; more than all of the previous presidents combined. An example of how Jackson vetoed based on disagreement or malcontent is Jackson's veto on the rechartering of the Bank of the US. His hatred and prejudice against The Bank were his only reasons for issuing the veto. This way, by using the veto more frequently, Jackson broke from the old tradition and standard and gave future presidents more freedom and less social pressure when using the veto.

Another great reason why Jackson is considered to have expanded limits is the way he dealt with people in the federal office that disagreed with him: the Spoils System. Jackson used the Spoils System from the get-go, and it disposed of dissenters of Jacksonian policies within the executive...