Inventing the American presidency - Kenneth C. Davis

Summary

In 1787, 55 men gathered in Philadelphia to design a new American government, facing the challenge of creating the executive branch. They debated the structure, term limits, and powers of the President to ensure a decisive leader without the risks of a monarchy. The framers chose electors to select the President, with Congress as a fallback, and established the presidency in Article 2 of the Constitution. The script explores the founding principles and compromises that shaped the U.S. presidency.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The script focuses on the challenges faced by the framers of the U.S. Constitution as they worked to design the presidency in 1787.
• 📝 Declaring independence was risky, but creating a new government posed its own set of difficulties, especially during a hot summer in Philadelphia.
• 🔥 The framers debated many aspects of the executive branch, including whether one person or a committee should lead, how long the leader should serve, and how to remove them if necessary.
• 👨‍⚖️ The idea of a president was a new concept, and the framers feared giving one person too much unchecked power, as they had just fought a war against a monarch.
• 👑 They were adamant that the new leader would not be a king and aimed to avoid any form of dictatorship.
• 👨‍💼 The decision was made to create a president with defined powers, such as command of the military, but balanced by Congress's authority to declare war.
• 🗳️ Electors, rather than the people or Congress, were chosen to select the president, as it was believed they could make a more informed decision.
• 📏 Some controversial compromises were made, including the 3/5 compromise and allowing unlimited four-year terms for the president.
• 🔄 Over time, some of these compromises have been amended, and the power of the presidency has varied depending on the individual in office.
• 🤔 The script concludes by asking the reader to consider how they would redesign the presidency if they could start from scratch.

Q & A

What was the main challenge faced by the framers in 1787 when designing the executive branch of government?

The main challenge was deciding the structure and powers of the executive branch. The framers debated issues such as whether one person or multiple people should hold the position, how long they should serve, and how to remove them if necessary.

Why did the framers choose a president instead of a king or monarch for the executive role?

The framers rejected the idea of a king because they had just fought a war against a monarchy and feared that giving one person unchecked power could lead to tyranny. They wanted an executive who had authority but was not a monarch.

How did the framers view the role of the president in a crisis, such as an invasion or rebellion?

The framers believed that the president needed to be decisive and able to act quickly in a crisis. They referred to this as 'energy and dispatch,' qualities they saw as necessary for dealing with emergencies without the delays of congressional debate.

What were the concerns about allowing the people or the legislature to choose the president?

The framers worried that the people were too easily misled and that allowing the legislature to choose the president could lead to cabals and factions. They wanted a more impartial system for selecting the president.

How did the framers initially plan for the election of the president?

The framers decided that electors, wise and informed men, would choose the president. If the electors failed to produce a winner, the House of Representatives would make the final decision.

What compromise was made regarding the president's power over the military and the power to declare war?

The framers gave the president command of the army, but they reserved the power to declare war for Congress. This was a compromise to prevent the president from having unchecked military power.

What was the 3/5 compromise, and how did it relate to the creation of the presidency?

The 3/5 compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation and taxation. This compromise impacted the political structure of the country, including the presidency, as it influenced the balance of power in the electoral process.

Why did the framers give the president unlimited four-year terms?

The framers initially allowed the president to serve unlimited four-year terms because they believed it provided stability and continuity in leadership. However, this was later amended with the introduction of term limits.

How did the framers handle the removal of a president from office if he was doing a poor job or engaging in misconduct?

The framers included provisions for impeachment in the Constitution as a way to remove a president who was abusing his power or failing in his duties. This gave Congress the authority to remove a president through a formal process.

What fundamental question does the script ask the reader to consider about the presidency?

The script asks the reader to imagine starting from scratch and redesigning the office of the president. It invites reflection on how one might approach the role today, given the historical context and changes that have occurred since the Constitution was written.