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Presidential Power, Secrecy, and Accountability: Studies in Government and Public

Gregory Woods

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Published in Executive Privilege: Presidential Power Secrecy And Accountability (Studies In Government And Public Policy)

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The presidency is the most powerful office in the United States government. The president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the chief diplomat, and the head of state. The president has the power to veto legislation, to issue executive orders, and to make appointments to the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

This immense power is accompanied by a great deal of secrecy. The president and his staff are exempt from many of the transparency laws that apply to other government officials. The president can classify information as secret, and he can withhold information from Congress and the public.

Executive Privilege: Presidential Power, Secrecy, and Accountability (Studies in Government and Public Policy)

by Mark J. Rozell

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1206 KB
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Print length	:	423 pages

This secrecy has been growing in recent decades. Presidents have increasingly used classification to keep information from the public, and they have also become more aggressive in asserting executive privilege to withhold information from Congress. This trend has had a negative impact on accountability.

When the president can keep information secret, he can evade accountability for his actions. He can make decisions without public scrutiny, and he can avoid being held responsible for mistakes. This can lead to abuse of power and corruption.

There are a number of ways in which presidents have used secrecy to evade accountability. For example, President George W. Bush used secrecy to justify the invasion of Iraq. President Obama used secrecy to justify the use of drones to kill suspected terrorists. And President Trump has used secrecy to justify his travel ban and his decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.

The secrecy that surrounds the presidency is a threat to democracy. It allows presidents to evade accountability for their actions and to abuse their power. It is time to reform our secrecy laws and to restore transparency to the presidency.

Recommendations for Reform

There are a number of steps that can be taken to reform our secrecy laws and to restore transparency to the presidency. These steps include:

Narrowing the definition of classified information.
Strengthening the role of Congress in overseeing the executive branch.
Making it easier for the public to access government information.
Prohibiting the president from using executive privilege to withhold information from Congress.

These reforms would help to ensure that the president is accountable to the people he serves. They would also help to restore transparency to the presidency and to protect our democracy.

Executive Privilege: Presidential Power, Secrecy, and Accountability (Studies in Government and Public Policy)

by Mark J. Rozell

4.8 out of 5