Congressional and Presidential Privilege in the Constitution

Subject: Law
Pages: 2
Words: 279
Reading time:
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According to the Constitution (Sec. 1, Art. II), the executive power is granted to the President of the United States. This definition is based on the principle that separation of powers determines the role of the President as the head of the entire executive branch, in other words, as the head of the state and the highest official in the country. The executive power is granted to the President in a personal capacity. The Constitution does not mention any collegial government or the structure of the executive authorities. The President is independent, and he is not accountable to Congress but takes responsibility for the people. The President’s powers are enshrined in a rather wide scope, but they have no strict limits. At the same time, the presidential power cannot turn into a dictatorship because there are certain powers of Congress and the Supreme Court. Therefore, I agree that Article II defines but does not limit President’s powers strictly. For instance, the President of the United States possesses the so-called veto or the right to suspend the higher federal officials from the Office.

As for a congressional privilege, the US Constitution (Sec. 6, Art. II) guarantees Congress some parliamentary privileges unifying concepts of parliamentary immunity and indemnity. Immunity is that they cannot be arrested during their attendance at the session of their respective houses as well as while following to the house, and the return from it except in cases of treason, felony, and the violation of public order. However, the Constitution does not note the presidential privilege as Article II implies some extent of the absoluteness of the President’s powers and privileges.