Ch. 13 The Presidency Intro
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The role of the U.S. president has greatly changed over the years. The original plan for the executive officer was for him to react to Congressional laws and monitor their implementation, to represent the nation in foreign negotiations, and to suggest a list of national priorities. The Founding Fathers did not trust a single, powerful leader and made almost all of the powers contingent on Congressional involvment. The president could command the military, but funding and rules would come from Congress. Treaties and appointments were to become official only with legislative approval. Veto actions could be overridden, and suggestions for priorities could be ignored.