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.

PS
Answered by Parmis S. History tutor

2451 Views

See similar History A Level tutors

Related History A Level answers

All answers ▸

'Germany experienced a period of political calm, international security, and social and cultural progress in the mid-1920s'. How far do you agree with the judgement?


How successful was the Treaty of London of 1518 in fulfilling Henry VIII’s aims in foreign policy?


Explain why Lenin’s Testament was not published immediately after his death in 1924. (AQA AS paper)


'Economic successes was the most important reason for Conservative electoral dominance in the period from 1951-64.' How far do you agree?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning