{"id":365,"date":"2026-01-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=365"},"modified":"2026-01-06T11:46:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T16:46:30","slug":"how-20th-century-presidents-grew-power-at-home-and-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/how-20th-century-presidents-grew-power-at-home-and-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"How 20th century presidents grew power at home and abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Mikay\u00adla Bun\u00adnell
UConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more to learn about expan\u00adsions of exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader under pres\u00adi\u00addents Franklin D. Roo\u00adsevelt, Lyn\u00addon B. John\u00adson and Ronald Rea\u00adgan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Franklin D. Roo\u00adsevelt <\/strong>(1933\u20131945)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expan\u00adsions under the New Deal and a pro\u00adposed way to reshape the Supreme Court<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Franklin D. Roo\u00adsevelt expand\u00aded the pres\u00adi\u00adden\u00adcy to more than just chief exec\u00adu\u00adtive, the Miller Cen\u00adter said \u2014 he made the pres\u00adi\u00addent a chief leg\u00adis\u00adla\u00adtor, a \u201cdrafter of pol\u00adi\u00adcy.\u201d Roosevelt\u2019s New Deal leg\u00adis\u00adla\u00adtion moved the coun\u00adtry away from dual fed\u00ader\u00adal\u00adism, in which states and the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment are two dis\u00adtinct enti\u00adties each with their own pow\u00aders, to coop\u00ader\u00ada\u00adtive fed\u00ader\u00adal\u00adism, where state and fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment over\u00adlap more in terms of pow\u00aders.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his first inau\u00adgur\u00adal address<\/a> on March 9, 1933, Roo\u00adsevelt made clear that he was ready to do what it took to bring the nation out of the Great Depres\u00adsion. He said that he was ready to make unprece\u00addent\u00aded moves to com\u00adbat the unprece\u00addent\u00aded dif\u00adfi\u00adcul\u00adties the coun\u00adtry was fac\u00ading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is to be hoped that the nor\u00admal bal\u00adance of exec\u00adu\u00adtive and leg\u00adisla\u00adtive author\u00adi\u00adty may be whol\u00adly ade\u00adquate to meet the unprece\u00addent\u00aded task before us,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it may be that an unprece\u00addent\u00aded demand and need for unde\u00adlayed action may call for tem\u00adpo\u00adrary depar\u00adture from that nor\u00admal bal\u00adance of pub\u00adlic pro\u00adce\u00addure.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Photo courtesy Loc's Public Domain Archive<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Roosevelt-2-1024x819.png\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Roosevelt-2-1024x819.png\" alt class=\"wp-image-493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Roosevelt-2-1024x819.png 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Roosevelt-2-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Roosevelt-2-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Roosevelt-2-1536x1228.png 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Roosevelt-2.png 1566w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Pres\u00adi\u00addent Franklin D. Roo\u00adsevelt. Con\u00adgress del\u00ade\u00adgat\u00aded many pow\u00aders to Roo\u00adsevelt to help him get the coun\u00adtry out of the Great Depres\u00adsion. Pho\u00adto cour\u00adtesy Loc\u2019s Pub\u00adlic Domain Archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Roo\u00adsevelt asked that Con\u00adgress give him \u201cbroad exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader to wage a war against the emer\u00adgency\u201d if they couldn\u2019t pass his rec\u00adom\u00admend\u00aded mea\u00adsures of their own to end the Depres\u00adsion. Con\u00adgress end\u00aded up doing just this, as much of the New Deal con\u00adsist\u00aded of Con\u00adgress del\u00ade\u00adgat\u00ading pow\u00aders to the exec\u00adu\u00adtive branch to reg\u00adu\u00adlate the econ\u00ado\u00admy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe New Deal pro\u00adduced a pres\u00adi\u00adden\u00adcy that was more insti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal\u00adly inde\u00adpen\u00addent of Con\u00adgress and more polit\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly free of the par\u00adties than ever before,\u201d wrote John Yoo, a law pro\u00adfes\u00adsor at the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Cal\u00adi\u00adfor\u00adnia Berke\u00adley. Roo\u00adsevelt led Con\u00adgress to cre\u00adate a \u201cvast admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtive state.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For much of the New Deal leg\u00adis\u00adla\u00adtion passed, the exec\u00adu\u00adtive branch draft\u00aded the leg\u00adis\u00adla\u00adtion and sent it to Con\u00adgress, which approved it after glanc\u00ading at it \u2014 or not look\u00ading at all, Yoo said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of these bills was the Nation\u00adal Indus\u00adtri\u00adal Recov\u00adery Act and the sub\u00adse\u00adquent Nation\u00adal Recov\u00adery Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion, which put in place by exec\u00adu\u00adtive order after the orig\u00adi\u00adnal act was passed. The act sus\u00adpend\u00aded antitrust laws and required com\u00adpa\u00adnies to \u201cto write indus\u00adtry-wide \u2018codes of fair com\u00adpe\u00adti\u00adtion\u2019 that effec\u00adtive\u00adly fixed prices and wages, estab\u00adlished pro\u00adduc\u00adtion quo\u00adtas, and imposed restric\u00adtions on entry of oth\u00ader com\u00adpa\u00adnies into the alliances,\u201d accord\u00ading to the Nation\u00adal Archives.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nation\u00adal Recov\u00adery Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion made agree\u00adments with indus\u00adtries about work hours, pay rates and price-fix\u00ading, cre\u00adat\u00ading more than 500 codes of fair prac\u00adtice for many indus\u00adtries. The act and the agency did not last long, how\u00adev\u00ader. In A.L.A. Schechter Poul\u00adtry Corp. v. U.S. (1935)<\/a>, the Supreme Court struck them down, say\u00ading that the pres\u00adi\u00addent can\u00adnot have unchecked pow\u00ader to do what\u00adev\u00ader he thinks is nec\u00ades\u00adsary to achieve a goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This opin\u00adion became a dri\u00adving force behind Roosevelt\u2019s court-pack\u00ading plan. Much of the New Deal leg\u00adis\u00adla\u00adtion was found uncon\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal, most\u00adly on the grounds of vio\u00adlat\u00ading the sep\u00ada\u00adra\u00adtion of pow\u00aders between the exec\u00adu\u00adtive and leg\u00adisla\u00adtive branch\u00ades. Accord\u00ading to the Supreme Court His\u00adtor\u00adi\u00adcal Soci\u00adety<\/a>, \u201cno Supreme Court had ever struck down so many laws so quick\u00adly.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1936, after win\u00adning reelec\u00adtion for his sec\u00adond term in a land\u00adslide, Roo\u00adsevelt pro\u00adposed increas\u00ading the Supreme Court from nine jus\u00adtices to 15. This plan would have allowed Roo\u00adsevelt to appoint six new jus\u00adtices that would, ide\u00adal\u00adly, vote in his favor, though Roo\u00adsevelt sug\u00adgest\u00aded the addi\u00adtion\u00adal jus\u00adtices would only serve to light\u00aden the court\u2019s case\u00adload. The pres\u00adsure cam\u00adpaign is cred\u00adit\u00aded with push\u00ading the Court to change their harsh out\u00adlook on New Deal leg\u00adis\u00adla\u00adtion, though the plan failed to pass in Con\u00adgress. For exam\u00adple, the Court upheld the Social Secu\u00adri\u00adty Act in 1937 and upheld state min\u00adi\u00admum wage laws after pre\u00advi\u00adous\u00adly rul\u00ading against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roo\u00adsevelt also expand\u00aded the president\u2019s social reach through his Fire\u00adside Chats, which \u201ccon\u00adnect\u00aded the White House to ordi\u00adnary Amer\u00adi\u00adcan homes as nev\u00ader before,\u201d accord\u00ading to the White House His\u00adtor\u00adi\u00adcal Soci\u00adety<\/a>. At the peak of the New Deal era, Roo\u00adsevelt would hold these chats on the radio twice a year. Dur\u00ading these chats, Roo\u00adsevelt would cam\u00adpaign for and defend his poli\u00adcies direct\u00adly to Amer\u00adi\u00adcans. Yoo said this helped make the pres\u00adi\u00addent a \u201cdri\u00adving force for pos\u00adi\u00adtive gov\u00adern\u00adment,\u201d rather than just a polit\u00adi\u00adcal leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyn\u00addon B. John\u00adson <\/strong>(1963\u20131969)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expan\u00adsion through the Great Soci\u00adety and the Viet\u00adnam War<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyn\u00addon B. John\u00adson became pres\u00adi\u00addent after the assas\u00adsi\u00adna\u00adtion of John F. Kennedy in 1963. His pres\u00adi\u00adden\u00adcy saw a \u201cvast expan\u00adsion in the role of the nation\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment in domes\u00adtic affairs\u201d accord\u00ading to the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Virginia\u2019s Miller Cen\u00adter<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnson\u2019s Great Soci\u00adety pol\u00adi\u00adcy ini\u00adtia\u00adtives result\u00aded in leg\u00adis\u00adla\u00adtion like the Civ\u00adil Rights Act and the Vot\u00ading Rights Act. They required the nation\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment to become more present in the states, from pro\u00advid\u00ading \u201cfed\u00ader\u00adal reg\u00adis\u00adtrars and mar\u00adshals to enroll African Amer\u00adi\u00adcan vot\u00aders\u201d to imple\u00adment\u00ading fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment-run com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty action agen\u00adcies in munic\u00adi\u00adpal\u00adi\u00adties to help the poor, a Miller Cen\u00adter arti\u00adcle said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much of Johnson\u2019s Great Soci\u00adety work came through exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders. As pres\u00adi\u00addent, John\u00adson passed 57 exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders, side-step\u00adping Con\u00adgress through extra-leg\u00adisla\u00adtive pol\u00adi\u00adcy\u00admak\u00ading. A lot of his orders had to do with civ\u00adil rights and affir\u00adma\u00adtive action.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In ear\u00adly August 1964, John\u00adson announced that the North Viet\u00adnamese had attacked U.S. navy ships. Days lat\u00ader, Con\u00adgress passed a res\u00ado\u00adlu\u00adtion giv\u00ading the pres\u00adi\u00addent, in his pow\u00aders as com\u00adman\u00adder-in-chief, the pow\u00ader \u201cto take all nec\u00ades\u00adsary mea\u00adsures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the Unit\u00aded States and to pre\u00advent fur\u00adther aggres\u00adsion,\u201d giv\u00ading the pres\u00adi\u00addent great author\u00adi\u00adty to deploy the armed forces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Lyndon B. Johnson. Photo courtesy Loc's Public Domain Archive<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Johnson-2-1024x717.png\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Johnson-2-1024x717.png\" alt class=\"wp-image-494\" style=\"width:588px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Johnson-2-1024x717.png 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Johnson-2-300x210.png 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Johnson-2-768x538.png 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Johnson-2-1536x1076.png 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Johnson-2.png 1548w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Pres\u00adi\u00addent Lyn\u00addon B. John\u00adson. John\u00adson used exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders to imple\u00adment his Great Soci\u00adety ini\u00adtia\u00adtives. Pho\u00adto cour\u00adtesy Loc\u2019s Pub\u00adlic Domain Archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This led to the U.S. get\u00adting involved in the Viet\u00adnam War with\u00adout a for\u00admal dec\u00adla\u00adra\u00adtion of war from Con\u00adgress. It allowed John\u00adson to do what\u00adev\u00ader he saw nec\u00ades\u00adsary to respond to attacks against the U.S. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though it is one of their con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal pow\u00aders under Arti\u00adcle One, Sec\u00adtion Eight, Con\u00adgress has not for\u00admal\u00adly declared war since World War II. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The res\u00ado\u00adlu\u00adtion was repealed in 1971 as the war\u2019s unpop\u00adu\u00adlar\u00adi\u00adty grew, accord\u00ading to the Con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion Cen\u00adter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ronald Rea\u00adgan (1981\u20131989) <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intro\u00adduc\u00ading the uni\u00adtary exec\u00adu\u00adtive the\u00ado\u00adry <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ronald Reagan\u2019s admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion is often described as the first to use the uni\u00adtary exec\u00adu\u00adtive the\u00ado\u00adry to expand pow\u00ader. Just one month after his first inau\u00adgu\u00adra\u00adtion, Rea\u00adgan signed an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order<\/a> allow\u00ading the pres\u00adi\u00addent to have over\u00adsight over reg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adto\u00adry actions of fed\u00ader\u00adal agen\u00adcies. Before imple\u00adment\u00ading any actions, the order said, agen\u00adcies must sub\u00admit a \u201cReg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adto\u00adry Impact Analy\u00adsis\u201d to the Direc\u00adtor of the Office of Man\u00adage\u00adment and Bud\u00adget, who is appoint\u00aded by the pres\u00adi\u00addent, to prove that the reg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adtions would ben\u00ade\u00adfit soci\u00adety.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

David Schoen\u00adbrod, a trustee law pro\u00adfes\u00adsor emer\u00adi\u00adtus at New York Law School, said that Rea\u00adgan was a selec\u00adtive pro\u00adpo\u00adnent of the sep\u00ada\u00adra\u00adtion of pow\u00aders, but only when it favored the exec\u00adu\u00adtive branch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rea\u00adgan fought against the leg\u00adisla\u00adtive veto, which allowed con\u00adgres\u00adsion\u00adal res\u00ado\u00adlu\u00adtions (which don\u2019t have to be signed by the pres\u00adi\u00addent) to over\u00adturn exec\u00adu\u00adtive agency actions, though he did not fight against statutes that del\u00ade\u00adgat\u00aded leg\u00adisla\u00adtive pow\u00ader to the exec\u00adu\u00adtive, such as the Sen\u00adtenc\u00ading Reform Act of 1984 that gave a pres\u00adi\u00adden\u00adtial\u00adly appoint\u00aded com\u00admis\u00adsion pow\u00ader to estab\u00adlish crim\u00adi\u00adnal sen\u00adtenc\u00ading rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Ronald Reagan. Photo courtesy Loc's Public Domain Archive<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Reagan-2-1024x819.png\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Reagan-2-1024x819.png\" alt class=\"wp-image-495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Reagan-2-1024x819.png 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Reagan-2-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Reagan-2-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Reagan-2-1536x1229.png 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/Reagan-2.png 1650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Pres\u00adi\u00addent Ronald Rea\u00adgan. Rea\u00adgan\u2019s admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion is often seen as the first to imple\u00adment the uni\u00adtary exec\u00adu\u00adtive the\u00ado\u00adry. Pho\u00adto cour\u00adtesy Loc\u2019s Pub\u00adlic Domain Archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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BACK TO GALLERY<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
1800s<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
2000s<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Mikay\u00adla Bun\u00adnellUConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism Read more to learn about expan\u00adsions of exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader under pres\u00adi\u00addents Franklin D. Roo\u00adsevelt, Lyn\u00addon B. John\u00adson and Ronald Rea\u00adgan. Franklin D. Roo\u00adsevelt (1933\u20131945)  Expan\u00adsions under the New Deal and a pro\u00adposed way to reshape the Supreme Court Franklin D. Roo\u00adsevelt expand\u00aded the pres\u00adi\u00adden\u00adcy to more than just chief exec\u00adu\u00adtive, the Miller [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":972,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[179],"tags":[33,91,153,156,152,157,151],"class_list":["post-365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-presidents","tag-executive-orders","tag-executive-power","tag-franklin-d-roosevelt","tag-lyndon-b-johnson-2","tag-ronald-reagan","tag-vietnam","tag-war"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":320,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/executive-power\/","url_meta":{"origin":365,"position":0},"title":"Executive Power","author":"Mikayla Bunnell","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The White House in Washington, DC, on Oct. 21, 2025. Article 2 of the Constitution establishes the office of the presidency, including pardoning powers. Photo by Lily Goldblatt. Article 2, Section 1, established the office of the presidency. The clause requires that the president and the executive branch \u201cfaithfully executes\u201d\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Constitution"","block_context":{"text":"Constitution","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/constitution\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/white-house_10212025-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":338,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/exec-power-in-history\/","url_meta":{"origin":365,"position":1},"title":"History shows how presidents expand power","author":"Dan Stark","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Dan Stark, Mikayla Bunnell & Lily GoldblattUConn JournalismDiscover how different U.S. presidents have expanded the scope of the executive branch since the 1800s in the visualization below. To read more about presidential expansions of power in each century, click on the links below.\u00a0 1800s 1900s 2000s 1800s 1900s 2000s","rel":"","context":"In "Executive Power"","block_context":{"text":"Executive Power","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/executive-power\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/Screen-Shot-2025-11-10-at-5.26.37-PM-e1762813637658.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/Screen-Shot-2025-11-10-at-5.26.37-PM-e1762813637658.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/Screen-Shot-2025-11-10-at-5.26.37-PM-e1762813637658.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/11\/Screen-Shot-2025-11-10-at-5.26.37-PM-e1762813637658.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":336,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/constitutional-crisis-or-executive-prerogative\/","url_meta":{"origin":365,"position":2},"title":"Constitutional crisis or executive prerogative?","author":"Mikayla Bunnell","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"How Trump's actions on due process, courts, elections and executive power stack up against our nation's founding document The Constitution of the United States, \"The Signing\" by artist Howard Chandler Christy, circa 1900. Courtesy of Library of Congress By Mikayla BunnellUConn Journalism \"We the People of the United States, in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Constitution"","block_context":{"text":"Constitution","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/constitution\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/signing-of-constitution-1900-Howard_Chandler_Christy-artist.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":352,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/presidents-in-1800s-expand-wartime-and-veto-powers\/","url_meta":{"origin":365,"position":3},"title":"Presidents in 1800s expand wartime and veto powers","author":"Dan Stark","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Dan StarkUConn Journalism Read here to learn more about expansions of executive power in the 1800s under Presidents Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Abraham Lincoln. Andrew Jackson\u00a0(1829-1837)\u00a0 Introduced the spoils system and expanded veto power Political cartoon depicting \"King Andrew Jackson,\" from an unknown artist. President Andrew Jackson\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "presidents"","block_context":{"text":"presidents","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/presidents\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/30a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1353,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/unitary-executive-theory-helps-trump-expand-power\/","url_meta":{"origin":365,"position":4},"title":"Historic dispute over \u2018unitary executive\u2019 advances in Trump era","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Charlotte Harvey\u00a0UConn Journalism A political theory that has been advancing for 100 years is now more influential than ever before\u00a0\u2013 taking center stage in recent Supreme Court arguments, despite many\u00a0experts claiming it invalid.\u00a0\u00a0 The\u00a0unitary\u00a0executive\u00a0theory\u00a0is a political,\u00a0legal\u00a0and constitutional theory that asserts that all the power of the executive branch is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Executive Power"","block_context":{"text":"Executive Power","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/executive-power\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Washington delivering his inaugural address April 1789, in the old city hall, New-York.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/Washington-at-First-Congress-1789.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/Washington-at-First-Congress-1789.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/Washington-at-First-Congress-1789.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":440,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/ct-vs-us-tong-files-unprecedented-challenges-to-trump-actions\/","url_meta":{"origin":365,"position":5},"title":"CT vs. US: Tong files \u2018unprecedented\u2019 challenges to Trump actions","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Connecticut Attorney General William Tong speaks to a University of Connecticut journalism students via video call on Oct. 14, 2025. Tong has joined 35 lawsuits against the federal government in the first nine months of Donald Trump's second term. Photo by Connor Sharp. By\u00a0Charlotte HarveyUConn Journalism\u00a0 Connecticut and other Democratic-led\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Executive Power"","block_context":{"text":"Executive Power","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/executive-power\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/tong-thumbnail.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/tong-thumbnail.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/tong-thumbnail.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/tong-thumbnail.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/tong-thumbnail.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2026\/01\/tong-thumbnail.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgTa6m-5T","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/972"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=365"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1137,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/365\/revisions\/1137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}