America: A President Or A King?
by KrisAnne Hall, JD
Great study and deliberation was conducted in designing the office of the president. What was the designers of our Constitutional Republic chief concern? That the president would become a king.
“The safety of the people in a republic depends on the share or proportion they have in the government; but experience ought to teach you, that when a man is at the head of an elective government invested with great powers, and interested in his re-election, in what circle appointments will be made; by which means an imperfect aristocracy bordering on monarchy may be established.” Anti-Federalist #67
When creating the office of the president our founders had many things to consider. The first consideration was, would this executive purpose be best fulfilled with a committee, a tribunal, or one person. In the current climate, it was concluded that the power of the executive should be vested in one person, as an ambassador behalf of the States, to other nations. But having just thrown off the bonds of kingly rule, how could the designers of our Constitution ensure that this one person, over time, would not accumulate power and become the king they never wanted? The answer, limited and concurrent authority.
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