Did congress or the president have more authority with setting policy during reconstruction in the south?
This article has your answer.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASreconstruction.htm
I take it that Congress had more authority. My reasoning was due to the Manifesto of the Wade-Davis plan. I thought this asserted all the authority to Congress because they we're so enraged by Lincoln's veto of the Wade-Davis plan. Consequently Lincoln was nearly removed from office
Yes, Congress had more authority. It quickly passed the Reconstruction Act over the president's veto.
As for Lincoln -- Reconstruction didn't really start until after the Civil War and after Lincoln had been killed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_era_of_the_United_States
During the Reconstruction era in the United States (1865-1877), both Congress and the President had significant roles in setting policy, but Congress generally had more authority and control.
To understand this, let's delve into some history. Reconstruction was a period marked by the federal government's efforts to rebuild the South after the Civil War, politically integrating newly freed slaves into society, and determining the rights and status of the former Confederate states. Throughout this time, there were debates and conflicts between Congress and the President over the direction of Reconstruction policies.
1. President's Role: The President, as the chief executive, played a crucial role in proposing policies and implementing the laws. The President at the time, including Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant, had the power to issue executive orders and veto legislation. They were responsible for enforcing the policies outlined by Congress.
2. Congressional Role: Congress, as the legislative branch, held significant authority during Reconstruction. It had more control over policymaking due to its power to create and pass laws. Moreover, it possessed the authority to override Presidential vetoes with a two-thirds majority vote. Congress enacted several crucial laws during Reconstruction, such as the Reconstruction Act of 1867 and the Fourteenth Amendment, which significantly impacted Southern governance and civil rights.
However, it is important to note that Congress and the President often clashed over the extent of federal control and the treatment of former Confederate states. President Johnson, for example, favored a more lenient approach toward the South, while Congress pushed for a stricter process, laying the foundation for the Radical Reconstruction period.
In summary, both the President and Congress played essential roles in setting policies during Reconstruction. While the President had executive powers and could propose policies, Congress had more authority to legislate and often took the lead in establishing the framework of Reconstruction through its laws and acts.