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The Historical Presidency : “Generalissimo of the Nation”: War Making and the Presidency in the Early Republic
Author(s) -
Adler William D.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
presidential studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.337
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 1741-5705
pISSN - 0360-4918
DOI - 10.1111/psq.12030
Subject(s) - presidency , presidential system , political science , rhetorical question , the republic , law , period (music) , public administration , politics , literature , philosophy , theology , art , aesthetics
This article explores the nature of congressional‐presidential relations regarding war making in the early republic. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, I argue that C ongress was not primary in war making during this period. Examining small wars, particularly those against native tribes, demonstrates how little influence C ongress had, with oversight generally occurring only after the fact. Rhetorical presidential support for C ongress's role did not accord with their practical readiness to initiate and manage hostilities unilaterally. The willingness of modern presidents to act without congressional consent is therefore not necessarily a historical aberration.