Congress more powerful than the president (with some exceptions)?

And the exceptions might be important. For example, James Polk sure got the war with Mexico that he wanted.

Now, we might consider the argument that Abraham Lincoln was the first president more powerful than Congress. But, when after Andrew Johnson became president, after most of a year when he administered Reconstruction by himself since Congress had adjourned (and this time period is significant), Congress passed a whole series of Reconstruction measures over his vetoes, and either before, during, or after this, impeached and almost removed him from office. But taking the reins of government might actually be the more significant aspect.

Your thoughts please.
 

jahenders

Banned
I think shifts in the balance of power between the 3 branches started shortly after founding and continues to this day.

The balance between POTUS and Congress has gone back and forth, but the general trend has been toward increased presidential power. That shift probably became a permanent thing in the 1900s with:
- HUGE growth of Executive branch bureaucracies and commensurate power
- Growth of several huge programs (New Deal, Great Society, Obamacare), largely based on Presidential pushes
- Presidential non-declarations of war
- Congress giving Executive branch agencies authority to set policies

In general, this has led to a consolidation of power in the Executive branch. Congress has largely gone along with this in periods where the President and Congressional majority were in the same party and has proven unable/unwilling to undo this tendency at other times.

So, in general, a united Congress can be an effective counterweight to the President. But a Congress where 40-60% of Congress sides with the President against the rest of Congress, Congress can only slow or speed Presidential intent.
 
I think Congress defers much more on foreign policy. Once a war is proposed, for any reason, even a crappy reason, it seems like Congress generally goes along.

Is it a type of reasoning somewhat similar to hypochondria? That the magnitude of the bad possibility is so gripping, you lose sight of how likely or unlikely it is? Maybe.

----------

PS As a good liberal, I might hope that Obamacare grows and develops and streamlines and becomes as successful as some of the better New Deal programs.
 
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Cryostorm

Monthly Donor
Yes, Congress was much more powerful than the president during the nineteenth century, there is a reason few know any president between Andrew Jackson and Teddy Roosevelt with the notable exceptions of Polk and Lincoln. This is because the president was mostly involved in foreign relations which does not mean much for an isolationist nation, while congress dealt with domestic matters. This continued for most of the century mostly because the US politics was very localized.

This changed after the Roosevelt presidents mainly because people started noticing national problems and demanding national, and not local, solutions. Congress then proceeded to drop the ball, and continues to do so, by staying very focused on their region and not the nation as a whole. Add in the fractious and partisan nature of Congress and the many competing opinions and it is no wonder people started to look toward the one office that represented a plurality, if not a majority, of the population's wishes. Having the president guide popular domestic policies slowly but surely increased the executive office's power until you get today "imperial" president, which is not a bad thing.

By the time Congress really started to realize the amount of power they have given the president during the World Wars and Cold War it could not readily get it back, especially with the Supreme Court usually backing the Executive office if it even took the case. Which is why you have Congress relegated to trying to oppose the president and, while somewhat succeeding, destroying its own credibility in the eyes of the people. So I doubt the Congress of the United States will ever get the level of power it enjoyed during the 1820-1860 and 1870-1900 periods, at least until Congress starts governing for the country as a whole and not their individual regions, which would probably require an overhaul of the House of Representatives.
 

jahenders

Banned
I agree. It's hard to see Congress (regardless of party in charge) getting past their myopia and dysfunction to work together.

Aside from that, the only thing that could limit executive power would be the courts, but as you note, they've so far been reluctant to do so. In many cases the courts (supreme and circuit) seem to favor universal policies (vs state-specific policies), which aligns better with the executive, who is often trying to create federal power under the executive.

By the time Congress really started to realize the amount of power they have given the president during the World Wars and Cold War it could not readily get it back, especially with the Supreme Court usually backing the Executive office if it even took the case. Which is why you have Congress relegated to trying to oppose the president and, while somewhat succeeding, destroying its own credibility in the eyes of the people. So I doubt the Congress of the United States will ever get the level of power it enjoyed during the 1820-1860 and 1870-1900 periods, at least until Congress starts governing for the country as a whole and not their individual regions, which would probably require an overhaul of the House of Representatives.
 
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