Executive Power

Executive Power

Creating the Executive branch was a difficult task for the Founders. They knew they didn’t want a king but what powers did a President and his staff rightfully need to execute and uphold the law? Episodes in this unit cover topics related to specific Presidential responsibilities and powers, as well as questions about who qualifies as an “Officer of the United States,” and the balance of power between the Executive and Legislative branches.

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5 of 16: The Appointments Clause and Democratic Accountability [No. 86]

Should officers of the United States be selected via political appointment, or by a merit-based hiring process? Professor Jennifer Mascott explores the tension between accountability in these two kinds of appointment. On one hand, perhaps agencies a ... Should officers of the United States be selected via political appointment, or by a merit-based hiring process? Professor Jennifer Mascott explores the tension between accountability in these two kinds of appointment. On one hand, perhaps agencies are best staffed with independent, non-political experts accountable to an independent board - but on the other hand, political appointments ensure some degree of democratic accountability to the people.

Jennifer Mascott is an Assistant Professor of Law at the Antonin Scalia Law School. Professor Mascott writes in the areas of administrative and constitutional law.

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

These videos were filmed when Jennifer Mascott was a professor at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School. Her views are entirely her own.

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