Executive powers are the abilities of a head of state to influence or enact certain laws and regulations. This article will discuss the definition of executive powers, their history, and their more recent uses.
Executive powers refer to the authority a president has to make decisions and enact laws in order to manage the nation. These powers are an integral part of the democratic system and are granted by the Constitution of the United States. Executive powers have grown significantly over the years and include the president's control of executive departments and agencies, the ability to veto legislation, and the power to issue executive orders.
Under the principle of separation of powers, executive power is one branch of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state. It is the president who acts as the head of state and is responsible for carrying out the laws and upholding the constitution. The president also has the power to make treaties, oversee foreign policy and appoint cabinet ministers and Supreme Court justices.
Additionally, the executive branch of government includes the Vice-President, who serves as President in the event that the president is unable to perform his or her duties. The Vice-President also takes on some ceremonial and executive roles such as presiding over the Senate and casting tie-breaking votes and ratifying treaties. Furthermore, the Office of the President also includes executive staff, advisors and other personnel who assist the President in carrying out his or her duties.
The history of executive powers is complex and intertwined with the development of modern democracy. In early forms of government, such as the ancient city-states of the Greek and Roman empires, executive power was often given to a king or ruler. This ruler had absolute power and authority over his people, and could make important decisions without consulting anyone else.
As democratic governments began to emerge, however, executive powers shifted from being given to one individual ruler to being delegated to a collective body of representatives. In England, for example, the Magna Carta established certain liberties and limitations on a monarch's authority. Over time, more and more executive power was given to a collective governing body like Parliament.
In the United States, executive power is given to the president, who is both the head of state and the head of government. The Founding Fathers recognized the need for a powerful executive to keep order and enforce the law during times of crisis, while also recognizing the importance of checks and balances in the government. Additionally, the separation of powers found in the Constitution ensures that no one branch of government has too much power. Thus, the president's executive powers are balanced with other branches of government to create a system of shared authority.
Executive Powers have been used in recent times in many different ways which has generated much controversy in the political arena. One of the most prominent uses of Executive Powers in recent years was seen during President Trump’s time in office. President Trump utilized executive orders to bypass Congress and pass his agenda, upsetting many members of Congress. This resulted in a number of challenges to his use of Executive Powers.
Another recent use of executive powers came from President Obama. During his administration he relied heavily on executive action to pass his policy agenda, including implementing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This type of executive action is controversial because it avoids having to go through Congress and the normal policymaking process.
Lastly, President Biden has used executive actions to begin tackling the major challenges such as the pandemic and climate change. He has used executive actions to reverse some of the policies put in place by President Trump and make changes to immigration policies. The president’s use of executive authority has already been met with legal challenges, signaling that the use of executive powers will continue to remain a prominent part of our political landscape.