ABSTRACT

The national government is, in theory, one of "enumerated" powers. The Constitution contains eighteen clauses defining the subjects on which the Congress may legislate, then reserves all other legislative power to the states. In the nineteenth century, the United States saw periods of executive dominance, when strong presidents had their way with the Congress, and periods of congressional supremacy, when weak presidents yielded to aggressive congressional leaders. In the Employment Act of 1946, the Congress made the president responsible for having, at all times, an economic program, aimed at ensuring "maximum production, employment and purchasing power." In the political arena, the Democratic party has generally been the party of federal activism, the Republican the party of restraint; this has been the principal issue that divides and defines the parties. When Republican presidents are elected, they do their best to check the expansion of the national government—or even to reduce the federal role.