The U.S. Constitution in Five Minutes - Joseph L. Smith
57. Does the Constitution Work in a Crisis?
The U.S. Constitution in Five Minutes - Joseph L. Smith
David Crockett [+]
Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
David Crockett is professor of political science at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. His primary area of research is the American presidency and presidential elections.
Description
The Framers of the Constitution understood the need for the government to be able to respond energetically in a crisis, and they believed that the quality necessary to do so was “energy.” In order to make energy more likely, the Framers constructed an executive composed of one individual. A single executive should avoid the crippling differences of opinion and rivalry that mark plural institutions, like Congress.