519,874 views
20 votes
20 votes
what does this excerpt mean? If he is indeed the executive, he must act almost entirely by delegation, and is in the hands of his colleagues. He is likely to be praised if things go well, and blamed if they go wrong; He is the representative of no constituency, but of the whole people… It is for this reason that it will often prefer to choose a man rather than a party. A president whom it trusts can not only lead it, but form it to his own views. It is the extraordinary isolation imposed upon the president by our system that makes the character and opportunity of his office so extraordinary. In him are centered both opinion and party… The President is at liberty, both in law and conscience, to be as big a man as he can. His capacity will set the limit; and if Congress be overborne by him, it will be no fault of the makers of the Constitution,- it will be from no lack of constitutional powers on its part, but only because the President has the nation behind him and Congress has not. He has no means of compelling Congress except through public opinion…

User Luiz Henrique
by
2.7k points

1 Answer

10 votes
10 votes

Answer:

This excerpt discusses the power of the President in the United States. It explains that the President is in a unique position, as he is the only official not a part of any particular party or constituency. This allows the President to act independently and lead the nation in whatever direction. The President has the backing of the entire country and has the power to influence public opinion and, therefore, Congress. He is not limited by the Constitution and can be as powerful as he can be.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Lxndr
by
2.6k points