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''The Imperial Presidency'' by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., is a book published in 1973 by Houghton Mifflin. This book details the history of the Presidency of the United States from its conception by the Founding Fathers through the latter half of the 20th century. The author wrote the book out of two concerns; first that the US Presidency was out of control and second that the Presidency had exceeded its constitutional limits.〔Cf. Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr., ''The Imperial Presidency'', p. x〕 A presidency becomes imperial when it relies on powers beyond those allowed by the constitution of the United States. The constitution established three separate branches of government, not for efficiency but to avoid the arbitrary exercise of power. The government outlined by the constitution was to replace and improve upon the imperial executive government of King George III of Britain.〔Schlesinger, p. vii〕 The book links the president’s accumulation of foreign powers during wartimes to the accretion of domestic powers. The constitution and its authors determined that the power to initiate a war belonged to the Congress. The president had the responsibilities to conduct ongoing wars and ongoing foreign relations and to respond to sudden attacks if the Congress was not in session.〔Schlesinger, p. 35〕 As the United States became a great world power and then a superpower, the presidency acquired more war powers despite the constitution. That reduced Congress's powers and the separation of powers, which is necessary to avoid the arbitrary use of power.〔Schlesinger, p. vii〕 Through various means, presidents subsequently acquired powers beyond the limits of the constitution. The daily accountability of the president to the Congress, the courts, the press, and the people has been replaced by an accountability of only once each four years, during an election. The changes have occurred slowly over the centuries so that what appears normal differs greatly from what was the original state of America.〔Schlesinger, Book dust jacket〕 == 1793–1896 == In 1793, President George Washington unilaterally determined that the new American Republic was neutral in the war between Britain and France during the French Revolutionary Wars. Alexander Hamilton supported the action while Thomas Jefferson and James Madison objected. The proclamation prohibited American citizens from assisting either Britain or France. However, grand juries refused to enforce the proclamation.〔Schlesinger, p. 18〕 In 1846, to annex Texas, President James K. Polk sent troops between Texas and Mexico, which provoked a war. Polk then manipulated Congress into recognizing a state of war. Representative Abraham Lincoln stated if it was allowed, a president could arbitrarily make war just as monarchs do and that the Constitutional Convention recognized that declaring war must not be in the hands of one man.〔Schlesinger, pp. 42–43〕 During the American Civil War, Lincoln assumed war powers as commander-in-chief of the military but made no claim that the constitution allowed him these powers. Without congressional authorization, Lincoln unilaterally expanded the military, suspended habeas corpus, arrested citizens, proclaimed martial law, seized property, censored newspapers, and emancipated slaves. Lincoln justified the actions as necessary to preserve the country rather than by the constitution.〔Schlesinger, pp. 58–60〕 However, he stated that the presidential war powers would cease to exist once the national emergency, the Civil War, ended.〔Schlesinger, p. 66〕 After the Civil War, the Supreme Court, in 1866, asserted that the constitution was the law of the land in war and peace and that government powers can not exceed those granted by the constitution.〔Schlesinger, p. 69〕 In 1867, the Supreme Court stated that the President must carry out the law and may not break the law. Presidential power was deflated following the Civil War.〔Schlesinger, p. 70〕 With the Spanish-American War in 1898, the United States became a great power, and presidential power expanded.〔Schlesinger, p. 82〕 In 1900, President William McKinley sent 5,000 troops to China (see Boxer Rebellion) for political purposes without congressional approval. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Imperial Presidency」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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