Executive Overreach

[katarn]

The executive authority has grown far too powerful in the U.S. The President has gained powers formerly attributed to Congress, the most notable being a de facto state of war. In the minds of many of America's founders, the executive was necessarily weaker than the legislative, but gradual concessions have largely reversed that dynamic.

1. Has the aggregation of power to the POTUS been the inevitable result of human nature, as many founders feared when designing the system?
2. What could realistically happen to re-reverse and diminish executive authority to its 'proper' place.
3. Should the dynamic be returned to more even and historical levels? Is the weakness of the executive actually necessary or even beneficial to a republic?

[SuburbanFarmer]

The executive authority has grown far too powerful in the U.S. The President has gained powers formerly attributed to Congress, the most notable being a de facto state of war. In the minds of many of America's founders, the executive was necessarily weaker than the legislative, but gradual concessions have largely reversed that dynamic.

1. Has the aggregation of power to the POTUS been the inevitable result of human nature, as many founders feared when designing the system?

Yes. In short, because frightened people crave a strong "Father" figure to make them feel safe. And our media directly profits from frightening people.

2. What could realistically happen to re-reverse and diminish executive authority to its 'proper' place.

People ejecting members of congress each election, and forcing them to listen to our concerns. Fortunately, I believe that the Millenials are developing an immunity to fear-mongering and are far more well informed than previous generations.

3. Should the dynamic be returned to more even and historical levels? Is the weakness of the executive actually necessary or even beneficial to a republic?

Yes. Very.

The Executive should only act in times of emergency, and otherwise be relegated to foreign diplomacy.

[C-Mag]

I Love the Trump Affect !

[de officiis]

The root cause, in a word: empire.

[katarn]

I Love the Trump Affect !

I like it too. These are thoughts I've actually had since well before I knew who Trump was or his running, but the amusement I felt when I saw normal people begin to think in the same vein prompted the posting.

I think the simplest, easiest to explain answer is this: Even if you might be fine with a Constantine or an Augustus, you wouldn't be okay with a Nero or a Caligula. Hence, it is best to restrict their authority so that they never get to be Caligula.

[TheReal_ND]

Nero in particular was much maligned by Christian historians for persecution.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nero-x00b0and

Caligula got an unfair hearing in the history books as well.