Final answer:
The Founding Fathers distrusted direct democracy, favoring a representative democracy and a strong executive branch. While the presidency has expanded its powers over time, mainly during wartime, it remains checked by the other governmental branches and the Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the thought process of many Founding Fathers of the United States, who distrusted direct democracy by the people in decision-making, fearing that uninformed or impulsive decisions could rule. Instead, they favored a representative democracy. They wanted a strong executive branch, led by a single president able to hold the legislative and judicial branches in check. This balance of power, intended to prevent any one branch from becoming too authoritative, is called checks and balances.
Initially, the presidency was viewed as a relatively weak branch compared to the legislature. But over time, presidents have often sought to increase their powers, sometimes at the expense of Congress. This power push happens especially during wartime when the chief executive is most powerful and Congress least powerful.
The power of the presidency has grown in response to circumstances and challenges. However, to be most effective, a president must still work with the other branches, through consultation, cooperation, and compromise in policymaking. Despite having power, the presidency is still held in check by the other branches of the federal government and the constitution itself.
Learn more about Checks and Balances