Question

Describe the evolution of the office of president from the framers through present day?

Answer 1

The presidency has evolved from a limited role to a significantly powerful position. This transformation has been shaped by historical challenges, technological advancements, and changes in the balance of power between government branches.

Step-by-step explanation:

Evolution of the Presidency from Framers to Present Day

The office of the president has undergone remarkable changes since it was invented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Initially, the presidency was designed with limited powers. Early figures such as George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson took actions that increased the role's influence, setting precedents for expansive interpretations of presidential power. As the needs and challenges of the nation evolved, so did the powers and responsibilities of the presidency. One such transformation occurred under Franklin D. Roosevelt, where the scope of the presidency significantly expanded to cope with the Great Depression and World War II, heralding the conception of the Executive Office of the President.

The balance between the branches of government initially favored Congress, but the 20th century saw a substantial shift towards the executive. Today, the presidency wields at least as much power as the legislature, enabled partly by an increase in federal government's size and scope. Presidents now make use of executive orders and executive privilege as influential tools of governance. Modern presidents have also benefited from advancements in communication technology—such as radio, television, and the Internet—to further enhance the visibility and authority of the office.

Therefore, while the presidency's core principles remain bounded by the Constitution and the necessity to work with other government branches, the presidency of the present day is far more active and powerful than initially conceived by the framers of the Constitution.

Answer 2

The 21st Century dawned on a very different presidency than the one created at the end of the 1700s. Constitutional provisions limited the early presidency, although the personalities of the first three — George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson — shaped it into a more influential position by the early 1800s. However, throughout the 1800s until the 1930s, Congress was the dominant branch of the national government. Then, throughout the rest of the 20th Century, the balance of power shifted dramatically, so that the executive branch currently has at least equal power to the legislative branch. How did this shift happen?