Man in the Arena: The Evolution of the Executive Office

Through an historical case study, this paper will answer the question: just how powerful has the presidency become? Has it really, through various tangible tools and the evolution of institutions, become a king-like figure, rising above the vaunted Legislative and Judicial Branches? The conclusion is this: based on the precedent of “prerogative,” a term to be explained and analyzed, presidents have been granted access to extraconstitutional actions that were not outside of the purview of the founding fathers. The usage of unilateral legislation, like the executive order, creates a surgeon’s knife of a political tool, allowing presidents to force legislation and regulation with the stroke of a pen. Finally, the spectacle regarding the presidency and the effective use of modern phenomena like social media allow presidents to effectively reach out and establish a power base like never before.