December 30, 2005

A Question On Claims of Executive Power

Our president has made expansive claims to executive powers.  I, personally, don't think that those claims are valid.  However, let me assume for the moment that I am wrong and that the president does, in fact have those powers.

The question is this: To what degree are those powers vested solely in the biological person who occupies the office of the president and thus may not be delegated?

We know, for example, that the president can not delegate his/her power to sign or veto legislation, just as a member of Congress can not delegate his/her power to vote.

Thus, perhaps it may be that, in the absence of enabling legislation from Congress, that the powers claimed by the president exist only in the person of the president, and that perhaps the president might personally be able to go abroad and abduct suspects, personally transport them, and personally abuse and interrogate them.  But through what means is that power, assuming that it exists, delegated to people who do not hold the Constitutional office of the President?

Posted by karl at December 30, 2005 11:49 PM