Expansion of FEDERAL POWER [AP Gov Review Unit 2 Topic 6 (2.6)]

Summary

This video explores the expansion of presidential power in the US, focusing on how it has grown since Franklin Roosevelt. It distinguishes between formal powers granted by the Constitution and informal powers exercised by the president. The video contrasts Teddy Roosevelt's broad interpretation of executive power with William Howard Taft's more restricted view. It also covers key moments in history, like Lincoln's wartime actions and FDR's New Deal, which significantly expanded the executive's role. Despite this growth, checks like impeachments and the 22nd Amendment show the president is not all-powerful.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video discusses the expansion of presidential power in the AP Government curriculum, focusing on Unit 2.
• 👤 The power of the U.S. presidency has grown significantly since Franklin Roosevelt, with an increase in both formal and informal powers.
• 📜 Formal powers are those explicitly granted to the president in Article 2 of the Constitution, like the veto or appointing federal judges.
• 📝 Informal powers are not mentioned in the Constitution but are exercised by the president, such as bargaining, persuasion, and executive agreements.
• 🤔 The video explores how presidents interpret and justify their use of these powers, with examples from Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.
• 🦅 Teddy Roosevelt believed the president should act on behalf of the people unless restricted by the Constitution.
• 🏛️ William Howard Taft advocated for a more restricted view, arguing the president can only exercise powers explicitly granted by the Constitution.
• 🔄 The video illustrates the shift in executive power from George Washington's deference to Congress to Andrew Jackson's assertion of the president as the people's representative.
• 🌐 Abraham Lincoln expanded executive power during the Civil War, suspending habeas corpus and taking measures to save the Union.
• 💡 Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal policies and use of executive powers during the Great Depression further expanded the role of the presidency.
• 🚫 Despite the growth of presidential power, there are checks and balances, as seen with Donald Trump's impeachments and the 22nd Amendment limiting terms.

Q & A

What are the two types of presidential powers discussed in the script?

The script discusses formal and informal powers. Formal powers are those explicitly granted to the president in Article 2 of the Constitution, such as the veto or appointing federal judges. Informal powers are not mentioned in the Constitution but are exercised by the president, such as bargaining, persuasion, and executive agreements.

What was Alexander Hamilton's argument in Federalist 70 regarding the executive branch?

Hamilton argued for a single executive in Federalist 70, stating that a single person can act more decisively when required and that a single executive would be a protection against the expansion of executive power because they would be closely watched and would be more careful with their power.

How did President Teddy Roosevelt interpret the executive role?

President Teddy Roosevelt believed that every executive officer, especially those in high positions, should actively and affirmatively do all they could for the people unless it was explicitly restricted by the Constitution or laws.

What was President William Howard Taft's view on executive power?

President William Howard Taft argued for a more restricted understanding of executive power, stating that the president can exercise no power that cannot be traced to a specific grant of power or reasonably implied within such express grant.

How did Andrew Jackson's conception of executive power differ from George Washington's?

Andrew Jackson believed himself to be the representative of the people and had a mandate to carry out their will, which was a significant shift from George Washington's conception of executive power, where he basically deferred to Congress.

What actions did Abraham Lincoln take to expand executive power during the Civil War?

Abraham Lincoln assumed executive powers to save the Union and emancipate the enslaved population of the Confederacy. He also suspended the constitutional right of habeas corpus, allowing people to be arrested without a proper trial.

How did Franklin D. Roosevelt use his executive powers during the Great Depression?

Franklin D. Roosevelt used his executive powers broadly to pass New Deal legislation, create new agencies, spend federal money to put people to work, and use the veto more than any other president before him.

What was the impact of FDR's presidency on the perception of presidential power?

FDR's presidency expanded the perception of presidential power significantly, proving Hamilton's point in Federalist 70 that a president could act energetically in times of crisis. Despite concerns about a tyrannical executive, FDR's actions were seen as necessary for the country's recovery.

What checks on presidential power are mentioned in the script?

The script mentions impeachment as a check on presidential power, as seen with Presidents Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Andrew Johnson. Additionally, the 22nd Amendment limits the president to two terms in office.

How has the debate about the size of government changed since FDR's presidency?

Since FDR's presidency, the debate has shifted from whether the government should be big or small to whether there should be a smaller big government or a bigger big government, reflecting the acceptance of a larger government role post-New Deal era.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Expansion of Presidential Power

This paragraph discusses the growth of presidential power from Franklin Roosevelt to modern times. It explains the difference between formal and informal powers, with formal powers being those explicitly granted by the Constitution, such as the veto or appointing federal judges, and informal powers being those not mentioned but exercised, like bargaining and persuasion. The paragraph highlights how presidents have used these powers over time, leading to an increasingly powerful executive branch. It contrasts the views of Teddy Roosevelt, who believed in an active executive role, with William Howard Taft, who advocated for a more restricted interpretation of executive power. The paragraph also reviews the historical expansion of executive power by presidents like George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt, emphasizing how each interpreted and justified their use of power.

05:01

🏛️ Checks and Balances on Presidential Power

This paragraph examines the checks on presidential power despite its expansion. It references President Franklin Roosevelt's attempts to expand his power, including his failed effort to change Supreme Court judges. The paragraph also discusses how presidential power has continued to grow since Roosevelt's era but has never returned to the limited scope of earlier presidents like Washington. It mentions the impeachments of President Donald Trump as a modern example of checks on the executive branch. Additionally, it notes the 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms, as a structural check on power. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content and support the video series.

Keywords

💡AP Government Curriculum

The AP Government Curriculum refers to the educational program designed by the College Board for high school students to prepare for the AP Government and Politics exams. The curriculum covers topics such as the Constitution, branches of government, political parties, and public opinion. In the video, the script discusses Unit 2, which focuses on the expansion of presidential power, indicating that the video is part of a broader educational series aimed at helping students understand the evolution of executive authority in the U.S.

💡Formal Powers

Formal Powers are the authorities explicitly granted to the President by the U.S. Constitution, such as the power to veto legislation or appoint federal judges. The video script uses the concept of formal powers to contrast with informal powers and to discuss how presidents have used these powers to expand their influence. The script mentions that formal powers are outlined in Article 2 of the Constitution.

💡Informal Powers

Informal Powers are those that are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but are exercised by the President, such as bargaining, persuasion, and executive agreements. The video script discusses how these powers have been used by presidents to exert influence beyond their formal constitutional authority, contributing to the expansion of presidential power.

💡Executive Branch

The Executive Branch is one of the three branches of the U.S. federal government, headed by the President and responsible for enforcing laws. The video script discusses the growth of power within the Executive Branch, particularly focusing on the expansion of presidential authority over time.

💡Anti-Federalists

Anti-Federalists were those who opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, fearing a strong central government. The video script mentions their concerns about the potential for tyranny if the President were given too much power, which is a central theme in the discussion of the expansion of presidential power.

💡Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a proponent of a strong central government. In the video script, Hamilton's Federalist Paper No. 70 is referenced as a defense of a single executive, arguing that a single President would be more accountable and thus less likely to become tyrannical.

💡Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, is mentioned in the script as an example of a president who believed in an expansive view of executive power. He believed that the President should act on behalf of the people unless explicitly restricted by the Constitution, which is in contrast to a more limited view held by other presidents like William Howard Taft.

💡William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States, is presented in the video as having a more restrictive view of executive power. Taft believed that the President could only exercise powers that were explicitly granted by the Constitution, which is in opposition to Roosevelt's broader interpretation.

💡Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, is discussed in the video as a president who significantly expanded executive power. Jackson believed he had a mandate to carry out the will of the people, which was constitutionally the role of Congress, and he used his veto power more extensively than his predecessors.

💡Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is mentioned for expanding executive power during the Civil War. Lincoln assumed powers to save the Union and emancipate enslaved people, even suspending habeas corpus, which is a significant expansion of executive authority.

💡Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, is highlighted in the script as a key figure in the expansion of presidential power. Roosevelt used his executive powers extensively to implement the New Deal and was elected to an unprecedented four terms, which led to the ratification of the 22nd Amendment limiting future presidents to two terms.

💡Checks and Balances

Checks and balances refer to the system of preventing an accumulation of power by providing for each branch of government to have the ability to limit the powers of the others. The video script mentions that despite the growth of presidential power, there are still checks on that power, such as impeachment, which was used against President Trump, and the 22nd Amendment limiting presidential terms.

Highlights

The expansion of presidential power has grown significantly since Franklin Roosevelt.

Formal powers are those granted to the president in Article 2 of the Constitution.

Informal powers are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but are exercised by the president.

Alexander Hamilton argued for a single executive in Federalist 70 to prevent the expansion of executive power.

President Teddy Roosevelt believed it was his duty to act on behalf of the people unless restricted by the Constitution.

President William Howard Taft had a more restricted view of executive power, arguing it should only be exercised when granted by the Constitution.

George Washington's conception of executive power was to defer to Congress.

Andrew Jackson expanded executive power by representing himself as the will of the people.

Abraham Lincoln assumed executive powers to save the Union and emancipate enslaved people during the Civil War.

Franklin Roosevelt used executive powers extensively to pass New Deal legislation during the Great Depression.

Roosevelt was elected four times, breaking the two-term tradition set by Washington.

Roosevelt's presidency is a testament to Hamilton's argument in Federalist 70 about the necessity of a single executive.

Despite the growth in presidential power, there are checks such as impeachment, as seen with Donald Trump.

The 22nd Amendment limits the president to two terms, a check on the expansion of executive power.

Republicans and Democrats argue about the size of government post-FDR, reflecting the reality of an already big government.

The video offers a review packet to help students excel in their AP Government class and exam.

Transcripts

hey there and welcome back to heimlich

history in this video we're going to

continue looking at unit 2 of the ap

government curriculum specifically the

expansion of presidential power over

time since the time of franklin

roosevelt the power and role of the

president has grown by roughly 13 or 14

metric butt loads and we need to figure

out how that happened and why so if

you're ready to get them brain cows

milked well then let's get to it so in

this video here's our objective explain

how presidents have interpreted and

justified their use of formal and

informal powers now to begin let me

remind you of what i said in the last

video about formal and informal powers

of the executive branch formal powers

are those powers granted to the

president explicitly in article 2 of the

constitution things like the veto or

appointing federal judges informal

powers are those powers that are not

explicitly mentioned in the constitution

but that the president exercises

nonetheless things like bargaining and

persuasion and executive agreements now

all presidents have made use of their

formal and informal powers but over time

the president has used more and more of

both powers and the end result has been

a much more powerful executive than we

had when the republic began now let me

remind you that this growth of power in

the executive branch was one of the

chief fears that had anti-federalists

pooping their broadcloth britches during

the ratification debates of the

constitution and the answer to those

fears was laid down by alexander

hamilton and federalist 70 which is one

of your required documents and here i'm

just going to give you a summary if you

want to look at this required document

in more depth i've got a whole video on

it anyway in federalist 70 hamilton

argues for a single executive

anti-federalists were arguing back that

executive power needed to be divided

among a few presidents so that the

executive branch didn't become in their

own words the fetus of monarchy they

were worried that if there was only one

president it would be far too likely

that said president would consolidate

too much power and become a tyrannical

turd not so hamilton argues he says that

a single executive is very much

necessary first because a single person

can act more decisively when required

second a single executive will actually

be a protection against the expansion of

executive power because if the president

tries to grab at power everybody knows

exactly who to blame and thus a single

executive would be much more inclined to

be careful with the power since they

will be watched so closely now i happen

to think that hamilton's arguments are

pretty sound but it's also true that

presidential power has expanded

significantly over time and that change

largely has to do with how the president

understands the role we actually have

illustrations of two opposing

interpretations of the executive role

and the first is from president teddy

roosevelt who said this my view was that

every executive officer and above all

every executive officer in high position

was the steward of the people bound

actively and affirmatively to do all he

could for the people and not to content

himself with the negative merit of

keeping his talents undamaged in a

napkin my belief was that it was not

only his right but his duty to do

anything that the needs of the nation

demanded unless such an action was

forbidden by the constitution or by the

laws in other words roosevelt is saying

that the president ought to act on

behalf of the people in every

conceivable manner unless it is

explicitly restricted by the

constitution the next president william

howard taft had a different opinion of

executive power he said the true view of

the executive functions is as i conceive

it that the president can exercise no

power which cannot be fairly and

reasonably traced to some specific grant

of power or justly implied and included

within such express grant as proper and

necessary to its exercise in other words

taft argued for a much more restricted

understanding of executive power

roosevelt said do anything as long as

it's not explicitly forbidden by the

constitution but taft said do nothing

unless it is explicitly granted in the

constitution and over the course of

american history we can see how those

two perspectives were adopted by

different presidents starting with

george washington we can see that his

conception of executive power was

basically to defer to congress which was

the people's brand but then a huge shift

in that role came with the presidency of

andrew jackson he believed himself to be

the representative of the people and

therefore had a mandate to carry out

their will now think about that for just

a second constitutionally it's congress

that represents the people's will but

jackson took that mantle upon himself

and you can see this change based solely

on the number of vetoes enacted by

jackson for comparison washington vetoed

two bills john adams zero thomas

jefferson zero and then jackson vetoed

12 bills so jackson certainly expanded

executive power to match his conception

of the role then executive power was

further expanded under the

administration of abraham lincoln

although he is generally forgiven for

that since you know he had a civil war

to fight he assumed executive powers to

save the union and to emancipate the

enslaved population of the confederacy

additionally he suspended the

constitutional right of habeas corpus

which means that people could be

arrested without a proper trial that's a

heinous thing but again he's generally

forgiven for it since you know civil war

but forgiven or not lincoln certainly

expanded the power glove into which the

presidential hand fits but that glove

would expand beyond all proportion in

the administration of franklin roosevelt

elected during the great depression

roosevelt made broad use of his

executive powers in order to pass his

new deal legislation aimed at rescuing

americans from their economic suffering

to this end he was able to get scores of

new deal policies passed he created new

agencies he spent butt loads of federal

money to put people to work and he made

use of the veto more than any other

president before him

times to which i say dang additionally

the man was elected no less than four

times breaking the two-term tradition

set by washington and he took his power

so far that he tried to push out supreme

court judges who disagreed with him and

replaced them with judges friendly to

his policies now that didn't work but he

tried nonetheless the thing is despite

roosevelt being the poster boy for the

anti-federalist fears of a tyrannical

executive he kind of proves hamilton's

point in federalist 70. in the 1930s the

nation was in crisis and fdr came in and

got to work quick fast in a hurry to

handle and whether you agree or disagree

with roosevelt's new deal policies

nobody can disagree that he was an

energetic executive now since fdr's

presidency presidential power has

expanded and contracted somewhat but it

has never gone back to the smaller scope

of power that we had in a president like

washington i think it's kind of funny

how today republicans and democrats

argue about how big or small the

government should be after fdr the

government was big full stop no

equivocation what they're really arguing

about today is whether there should be a

smaller big government or a bigger big

government anyway despite this almost

constant growth in the power of the

presidential role there are some checks

on that power that you should know just

because the president has become more

powerful doesn't mean the president is

immune to the checks and balances of

other branches case in point president

donald trump was impeached twice during

his four years in office joining the

ranks of two other presidents who had

been impeached bill clinton and andrew

johnson now trump was not removed from

office but the impeachments serve as a

reminder that the president is not

all-powerful additionally another check

you should know is that after

roosevelt's four terms in office we

ratified a new amendment namely the 22nd

amendment which limited the president to

two terms okay that's what you need to

know about unit two topic six of the ap

government curriculum you can click

right here and grab review packet which

will help you get an a in your class and

a five on your exam in may i myself am

invested with precisely zero executive

power but if you want me to keep making

these videos then you can let me know

that by subscribing heimler out