How does one answer the question of how the President in America supports or limits "ideal democracy"? I'm not sure the American people agree on what an ideal democracy is. Equal access, equal opportunity, and equal reward for effort would be hallmarks to me of a fair and socially just democracy. So I'll answer the question from that viewpoint. The President can use his "bully pulpit" as the leader of the country to change the national conversation toward issues that either support or detract from the goals of a socially just democracy. He or she can also use executive powers to veto legislation passed by Congress and make the bar of passage more difficult. Under George W. Bush, we saw an expansion of presidential power to unprecedented levels. The executive branch is a key component of the "balance of powers" in the Constitution, and was drafted in such a way to provide a check on the Congress. "The constitutional architects specifically designed the newly created office of the president to be independent of Congres in order to check what they perceived ats the latter's democratic excesses" (Katznelson, Kessleman, & Draper, 2011, p. 175). It was a revolutionary idea that has defined American Democracy.
The relationship between Congress and the President can be supportive and constructive or poisonous and destructive, as we see in current American politics. With such an ideological split in the country, reflected in our government, it is naturally going to be acrimonious to work through issues. However, it has gone beyond ideological differences on shaping the future of America and has instead devolved into moral judgments, such as "if you don't agree with me, you must be evil and bad and hate America". This has contributed to a deadlock in American government we have not seen in decades. The current "debt ceiling" fight is an example of this.
The U.S. Congress was drafted in such a way to give balance of power as equally as possible to the citizens of America. By having representation in the U.S. House depend on population, you have a branch that is as equally representative of population as possible. The Senate was designed to be a check on that branch so as to not grant too much power to popular opinion and instead represent equally the states of the Union. The Presidency was designed to be a check on both the House and the Senate, and is the only position in government elected by the entire population of the country. Unfortunately, corporate money and power have poisoned the wells of all the branches of government, including the tainted Supreme Court. The unlimited use of money in American politics means we have the best corporatocracy money can buy. Until real and substantial campaign finance reform and lobby reform happens, we will continue to be a country by the dollar, of the dollar, and for the dollar.
The relationship between Congress and the President can be supportive and constructive or poisonous and destructive, as we see in current American politics. With such an ideological split in the country, reflected in our government, it is naturally going to be acrimonious to work through issues. However, it has gone beyond ideological differences on shaping the future of America and has instead devolved into moral judgments, such as "if you don't agree with me, you must be evil and bad and hate America". This has contributed to a deadlock in American government we have not seen in decades. The current "debt ceiling" fight is an example of this.
The U.S. Congress was drafted in such a way to give balance of power as equally as possible to the citizens of America. By having representation in the U.S. House depend on population, you have a branch that is as equally representative of population as possible. The Senate was designed to be a check on that branch so as to not grant too much power to popular opinion and instead represent equally the states of the Union. The Presidency was designed to be a check on both the House and the Senate, and is the only position in government elected by the entire population of the country. Unfortunately, corporate money and power have poisoned the wells of all the branches of government, including the tainted Supreme Court. The unlimited use of money in American politics means we have the best corporatocracy money can buy. Until real and substantial campaign finance reform and lobby reform happens, we will continue to be a country by the dollar, of the dollar, and for the dollar.
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