Presidency

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate June 2001

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In more than two centuries since the presidency was established, the powers and responsibilities have grown to a point where a single person is unable to control them. When the presidency was established in 1787, the issue that caused the most debating was the issue of much power should the president be able to exercise. Delegates from the states were scared to give a single person too much power and they feared anarchy and monarchy. Many people feared that by giving the president the power to command the military, he would then use it against the states, and subdue them. But by far the main concern was the reelection of the president, people taught that once the president was chosen this would mean that he was going to stay in office until he wanted to leave. But after much discussion, it was decided that the president was going to be chosen by the people and thus the powers of the president emerged.

The constitution states that the president's primary duty is to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States. He is also responsible for the execution of the laws of the United States. In domestic affairs (that is anything that affect's the country) the president serves as Commander in Chief and is entitled to regulate measurements passed by Congress, and this is known as the power to veto. This simply means that the president has the power to reject any laws that the Congress tries to pass. The president that exercise the power of voting the most was Franklin D. Roosevelt, he veto the most purposes, vetoing a total of 372, and only 9 were overridden. The president also shapes the judicial branch by appointing federal judges, subject to the approval of the Senate. He...