The Presidential Precedent

By Lt. Colonel Denny Gillem (Ret)

As our nation was beginning, the Continental Congress passed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Congress also passed the Articles of Confederation which created our government during our Revolutionary War. Congress was the our government then. When the war was over, Congress met to upgrade the Articles, but they ended up writing our Constitution. Thus, we became the world’s only Constitutional Republic—a nation of laws. In a democracy the majority of the people could do anything, including enslave the minority. Among other things, our Constitution protected the minorities from the majority.

Our Constitution’s first article creates Congress. Article two created the position of president. Section 1 of Article 2 prescribes how the president shall be chosen. Section 2 prescribes the President’s power. Here is Section 2:

“The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.”

Section 3 adds:

“He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.”

Basically, the Congress passes laws; the President, as the head of the Executive Branch of our government implements the laws and runs the government.

The power of the presidency has grown since the first president, George Washington, took office in 1789. While presidential power has ebbed and flowed over time, the presidency has played an increasing role in American political life since the beginning of the 20th century, carrying over into the 21st century with some expansions during the presidencies of Franklin Roosevelt and George W. Bush. In the 21st century, the president is one of the world's most powerful political figures and the leader of a global superpower.

As the leader of the nation with the world’s largest economy, the president possesses significant domestic and international hard and soft power. For much of the 20th century, especially during the Cold War, our president was often called "the leader of the free world".

As we celebrate Presidents Day, we must keep in mind that, while we have elected some very competent people to that office, as well as some non-so-competent ones, the duties are very complex and the situations changing, and no one is perfect. I believe that we have a very good president now and that our nation is moving in the right directions. Let us keep him in prayer.

Respectfully,

Lt. Colonel Denny Gillem (Ret)

Host of America's Frontlines Podcast

https://AmericasFrontlines.com