Why Our Presidents Need Less Power

The famous words Francis Scott Key used while writing The Star Spangled Banner eventually became our nation’s national anthem. But should there be revisions to the anthem? Are we still the “the land of the free?” It seems as though our modern presidents are starting to violate our individual liberties in order to gain more presidential power. The constitution was written by some of the most brilliant people, and yet it’s being abused by some of the dumbest. What has happened since the terrorist attacks on 9/11 has become extremely controversial because procedures to carry out national security have violated many citizens rights. The change of power will only increase if nothing is to be done, which is why the expansion of presidential power is bad and needs to be reduced.

One reason why this movement of power has happened is because the constitution isn’t perfectly clear on who is able to do what. Article 1, section 8, gives the power of war-making to congress. However, article 2, section 2, gives the executive power to the president. The other problem is that the question needs to be asked, where do executive powers end, and where to congresses start? Throughout history there have been times where presidents have abused power. Abraham Lincoln violated the constitution when he wanted to keep control over Maryland, even though that violated habeas corpus. But what needs to be remembered is that his violation would only past as long as the confederates were rebelling. Bush however, could have violated the constitution for as long as he wanted. If future presidents wanted to carry out that order, they could also. Meaning the violation, in theory, could have lasted forever.

What is scary is that congress is becoming an unequal part of the government. The reason why that is scary is because congress is supposed to be the people’s voice. They are supposed to be the branch that sets national priorities, and maintains a check on the president. However it seems that we have gone into an era where congress isn’t carrying out their duties the way the constitution was designed.

Presidents nowadays use the presidential signing statement as a way to maneuver around laws. It is a way to let the president impose the law however he sees it. If you think about it, is almost seems disrespectful to our congressman. This strategy presidents use to protect their opinion has been harmed by George H. W. Bush, and had been badly abused by his son George W. Bush. In a report that was done by the American Bar Association, halfway through George W. Bush’s second presidency, he produced over 800 signing statements. That is more than every president before him combined (1)! It was the way the Bush administration attempted to determine which laws he would follow or not follow, regardless of what congress thinks. Looking ahead into the future, it looks like Barack Obama is not going to change the trend of presidential power either.