Why has there been an increase in the President of the United States' exercise of the 'Commander-in-Cheif' role?

The Presidency of the United States is one bound by constitutional checks and balances as set out by the Founding Fathers to prevent a tyrannical President. The formal constitutional constraints on the President in the domestic realm – whereby he or she is checked and constrained by the legislative and judicial branches of Congress and the Supreme Court, has led to an increase in the number of informal Presidential roles in the foreign policy realm, where there is more freedom to make standalone decisions. The recent history of the US Presidency suggests that Presidents who are willing to take full command of their constitutional role as ‘Commander-in-Chief’ are more likely to gain favourable public opinion, as was the case with President George W. Bush in his promise to wage a ‘war on terror’ following the events of 9/11. In addition to this, an ‘imperial presidency’ (as coined by Schlesinger), in which a President favours a dominant foreign policy, allows the leader of the executive branch to bypass the constraint of Congress in his/her decision-making.

Answered by Parmis S. History tutor

2158 Views

See similar History A Level tutors

Related History A Level answers

All answers ▸

'The USSR experienced it's most significant economic decline under Brezhnev'


discuss the long term causes of the French Revolution


How important was the South Sea Bubble crisis in Walpole’s rise to power?


Do you agree with the view that the most important changes in the 1530s were in the creation of the Royal Supremacy rather than in religious belief? Explain your answer, using Sources 4, 5 and 6 and your own knowledge. (40)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences