Executive power

The article discusses the Supreme Court's role during the Trump administration's constitutional crisis, noting its conservative majority's stance on executive power and challenges in balancing judicial authority with presidential actions. Critics debated whether the Court should have curtailed executive power more forcefully or maintained legal neutrality.

The Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. Slaughter that protections preventing the president from removing independent agency commissioners violate the Constitution’s separation of powers. The decision challenges the independence of agencies like the Federal Trade Commission, which previously shielded commissioners from presidential removal, and shifts executive power toward the president.

The article discusses concerns over President Trump's expansion of executive power, comparing it to Richard Nixon's presidency. It highlights the perceived overreach of executive authority and its implications.

The article discusses the potential for justices to expand presidential power while making exceptions for institutions like the Federal Reserve. It argues the court should avoid a middle path that theoretically expands executive authority but practically preserves exceptions.

The article argues that modern presidents, who often expand executive power, should emulate George Washington's restraint. Washington prioritized defining the presidency by its limitations rather than its potential, a principle the article suggests current leaders should adopt.