John Edwards '08: "Health Care“ Edwards: When I'm president, I'm going to say to members of Congress and members of my administration, including my Cabinet, "I'm glad that you have health care coverage and that your family has health care coverage. But if you don't pass universal health care by July six months - I'm going to use my power as president to take your health care away from you." Edwards: There's no excuse for politicians in Washington having health care when you don't have health care. I'm John Edwards and I approve this message.

The American Presidency

THERE is an idea, which is not without its advocates, that a vigorous executive is inconsistent with the genius of republican government. The enlightened well ‑ wishers to this species of government must at least hope that the supposition is destitute of foundation; since they can never admit its truth, without at the same time admitting the condemnation of their own principles. Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against those irregular and high ‑ handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary course of justice; to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy.... A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad government. --Alexander Hamilton, “Federalist #70”

Foreign Policy Powers under the Constitution: The Exception to Congressional Dominance?

Foreign Policy Powers under the Constitution President: 1.Commander in Chief 2.commission all officers 3.receive ambassadors President and Senate: 1.appoint ambassadors 2.make treaties Congress (conditional veto): 1.impose duties… to provide for the common defense 2.regulate commerce with foreign nations 3.establish a rule of naturalization 4.regulate the value of foreign coin 6.define & punish piracies & felonies committed on the high seas & offenses against the Law of Nations 7.declare war, grant letters of marque & reprisal, & make rules concerning captures 8.raise & support armies 9.provide & maintain a navy 10.make rules for armed forces 11.provide for calling forth the militia to repel invasions 12.prescribe training of militia 13.exercise exclusive jurisdiction over forts, arsenals, etc. 14.make all laws which shall be necessary and proper

The Imperial Presidency by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Growth of presidential power has been fairly gradual, and most has been concentrated in the areas of military and foreign affairs. –George W. Bush on Iraq & Social Security Presidential power grows in times of crisis and shrinks in time of calm. But it always grows more than it shrinks.

The Imperial Presidency Control over Information Executive Privilege Commander-in-Chief Mexican War Civil War Emancipation Proclamation Andrew Johnson Impeachment

Spanish American War World War I Treaty of Versailles League of Nations Permanent Crisis Great Depression World War II Cold War Cult of the Presidency The Imperial Presidency

The Revolutionary Presidency of Richard Nixon Policy Impoundment Selective Enforcement Legislation by Executive Order Pocket Veto Perpetual and Universal Privilege Police Powers of National Government War Powers Act Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act Secret Wars in Laos and Cambodia Watergate Threatened Impeachment & Nixon Resignation

Growth of Presidential Power: Technology & the Constitution The Framers’ fear of unified power. Secrecy and dispatch. One voice. Chief bureaucrat.