1. define imperial presidency
2. give two examples of presidents who increased presidential power
1. Imperial presidency is a term used to describe a presidency where the executive branch has accumulated an unprecedented level of power and authority, often to the detriment of the checks and balances system established by the Constitution.
2. Two examples of presidents who increased presidential power are:
- Franklin D. Roosevelt: His New Deal policies expanded the size and scope of the federal government, and he used executive orders extensively to bypass Congress and implement his agenda. He also sought to pack the Supreme Court with justices who supported his policies, which was ultimately unsuccessful but indicative of his willingness to challenge the other branches of government.
- Richard Nixon: Nixon famously declared, "When the President does it, that means it's not illegal." He expanded the powers of the presidency in areas like foreign policy and national security, and was involved in numerous scandals that revealed abuses of power, such as the Watergate scandal.