Executive-Legislative Relationships in the Political System of the USA Cover Image

Egzekutivno-legislativni odnosi u političkom sustavu Sjedinjenih Američkih Država
Executive-Legislative Relationships in the Political System of the USA

Author(s): Štefica Deren-Antoljak
Subject(s): Constitutional Law, Government/Political systems, Politics and law
Published by: Fakultet političkih znanosti u Zagrebu
Keywords: USA; political system; executive-legislative relationships; power; president; congress;

Summary/Abstract: The autor analyzes the constitutional separation of power as devised by the creators of the American Constitution. Although the legislative, executive and judicial power are separate so that none of them possesses exclusive governing power and all find expression in particular institutions which on principle are independent in terms of organization and functioning, the separation involves mutual control and thus mutual limitation (the checks and balances, system). However, during the current the separation of power as devised by the creators of the American Constitution has been upset through the strengthening and even domination of the executive power. The author analyzes the changes in the executive- legislative relationships that have taken place in recent years and which have substantially influenced the shifting of the gravity center towards executive power. She shows however that Congreess continues to play an enormous and vital role in the passing of laws and in representing public opinion. Futher, Congress continues to be an efficient barrier against the domination of executive power although it has ceded its role as initiator to others. The relationships between the President and Congress in current American society are based on the entanglement and mutual dependence of executive and legislative power.

  • Issue Year: XXIX/1992
  • Issue No: 01
  • Page Range: 56-72
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Croatian