Thomas Jefferson and Executive PowerBy revisiting Thomas Jefferson's understanding of executive power this book offers a new understanding of the origins of presidential power. Before Jefferson was elected president, he arrived at a way to resolve the tension between constitutionalism and executive power. Because his solution would preserve a strict interpretation of the Constitution as well as transform the precedents left by his Federalist predecessors, it provided an alternative to Alexander Hamilton's understanding of executive power. In fact, a more thorough account of Jefferson's political career suggests that Jefferson envisioned an executive that was powerful, or 'energetic', because it would be more explicitly attached to the majority will. Jefferson's Revolution of 1800, often portrayed as a reversal of the strong presidency, was itself premised on energy in the executive and was part of Jefferson's project to enable the Constitution to survive and even flourish in a world governed by necessity. |
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Page 20
... impressed horses, confiscated boats, conscripted citi- zens, and destroyed private property in order to resist the British. As presi- dent, Jefferson exercised powers previously nonexistent in the Constitution when he purchased and ...
... impressed horses, confiscated boats, conscripted citi- zens, and destroyed private property in order to resist the British. As presi- dent, Jefferson exercised powers previously nonexistent in the Constitution when he purchased and ...
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Contents
Section 15 | 151 |
Section 16 | 171 |
Section 17 | 173 |
Section 18 | 187 |
Section 19 | 188 |
Section 20 | 189 |
Section 21 | 195 |
Section 22 | 225 |
Section 9 | 105 |
Section 10 | 113 |
Section 11 | 120 |
Section 12 | 130 |
Section 13 | 132 |
Section 14 | 149 |
Section 23 | 230 |
Section 24 | 232 |
Section 25 | 237 |
Section 26 | 247 |
Section 27 | 259 |
Section 28 | 262 |
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Common terms and phrases
action administration American appeal appointment argued argument authority bill of rights Bruce Ackerman Burr cabinet citizens Colvin Congress considered constitutionality council debate declarations of principle defense democratic doctrine draft duty election election of 1800 executive discretion executive power executive prerogative Federalist Ford Gallatin governor Hamilton House Ibid impressed horses inaugural address James January Jeffer Jefferson believed Jefferson explained Jefferson to John Jefferson to Madison John Adams John Locke judge legislative legislature letter Library of America Lincoln Louisiana Purchase Madison to Jefferson majority Malone meant ment military militia necessity Neutrality Proclamation Notes oath offered partisan party political prerogative power presidential power presidential selection proclamation public opinion question ratified removal power reply Republicans Revolution of 1800 Second Inaugural Senate Special Message strict construction territory Thomas Jefferson tion treaty Twelfth Amendment understanding of executive University Press vice president Virginia Constitution vote Washington Wilkinson York
Popular passages
Page 142 - All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that, though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable ; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.
Page 56 - All the powers of government, legislative, executive, and judiciary, result to the legislative body. The concentrating these in the same hands is precisely the definition of despotic government. It will be no alleviation that these powers will be exercised by a plurality of hands, and not by a single one. One hundred and seventy-three despots would surely be as oppressive as one.
Page 107 - All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God.
Page 143 - Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political; peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none...
Page 107 - May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government.
Page 140 - I despair did not the presence of many whom I here see remind me that in the other high authorities provided by our Constitution I shall find resources of wisdom, of virtue, and of zeal on which to rely under all difficulties. To you, then, gentlemen, who are charged with the sovereign functions of legislation, and to those associated with you, I look with encouragement for that guidance and support which may enable us to steer with safety the vessel in which we are all embarked amidst the conflicting...
Page 106 - Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion.
Page 264 - In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to "preserve, protect, and defend it.