Our Own Prime Minister Is
Doubtless More Powerful - Has A Wider Authority.
But it is that
within the scope of his power the President is free from all check.
There are no reins, constitutional or unconstitutional, by which he
can be restrained.
He can absolutely repudiate a majority of both
Houses, and refuse the passage of any act of Congress even though
supported by those majorities. He can retain the services of
ministers distasteful to the whole country. He can place his own
myrmidons at the head of the army and navy, or can himself take the
command immediately on his own shoulders. All this he can do, and
there is no one that can question him.
It is hardly necessary that I should point out the fundamental
difference between our king or queen, and the President of the
United States. Our sovereign, we all know, is not responsible.
Such is the nature of our constitution. But there is not on that
account any analogy between the irresponsibility of the Queen and
that of the President. The Queen can do no wrong; but therefore, in
all matters of policy and governance, she must be ruled by advice.
For that advice her ministers are responsible; and no act of policy
or governance can be done in England as to which responsibility does
not immediately settle on the shoulders appointed to bear it. But
this is not so in the States. The President is nominally
responsible. But from that every-day working responsibility, which
is to us so invaluable, the President is in fact free.
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