Conclusion

This chapter refers to the American founders as the first in the world to create a powerful, unitary, independent chief executive officer in the context of a system where the bulk of governing authority would be held by the legislative branch. It reviews the principal device of the constitutional framers in allocating large swaths of traditionally royal power to Congress rather than the president. It also mentions the requirement for advance congressional authorization and approval for many of the most significant powers of the state, such as taxation and coercion. The chapter discusses how the presidency has seemed to metastasize as Congress has ceased effectively to function in recent decades. It points out the dangers of a unilateral executive under the unconventional presidency of Donald Trump, which seemed more severe compared to more circumspect occupants of the office.