Spring Break
Speakers discuss congressional earmarks, shift of power between branches
By: Brooke Lein
Issue date: 9/18/08 Section: News
In conjunction with Constitution Day, speakers Ernest Istook and Richard Riley discussed congressional spending in times of war at the MSC Wiley Lecture Series Wednesday.
"Two features that seem to dominate much of the political climate are [those] which relate to war powers and congressional earmarks," said Richard Riley, professor of political science at Baylor University.
Riley opened his argument by referring to the constant shift of power between the executive and legislative branches. He refers to this transaction of authority as "the water balloon theory of government," in which one side expands while the other portion is constricted.
"The history of presidential power is one of steady, if often times uneven, growth over the past 200 years," Riley said. Past presidents like Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln have redefined the role and authority of the office.
Riley conceded that in times of crisis, Congress has traditionally debated, deliberated, and delegated more power to the executive branch with the hope that the issue will be properly addressed.
In the wake of the attacks of Sept. 11, for example, the Bush presidency and the Congress took aggressive action to search out and destroy those who were deemed responsible for the loss of nearly 3,000 lives.
Congress passed a series of legislation, including the Patriot Act and the Detainee Treatment Act, which allocated a broad range of power to the executive branch in the inquisition of guilty terrorist regimes.
Congress has traditionally retained the "power of the purse," meaning the legislative branch has the ability to control and appropriate government funds. However, in recent years, Congress seems to be more financially submissive to the president.
In 2002, Congress apportioned $249 billion for defense and by 2004, the price tag grew to $454 billion. The defense budget the Bush administration presented to Congress in February of 2008 was an estimated $730 billion.
"Two features that seem to dominate much of the political climate are [those] which relate to war powers and congressional earmarks," said Richard Riley, professor of political science at Baylor University.
Riley opened his argument by referring to the constant shift of power between the executive and legislative branches. He refers to this transaction of authority as "the water balloon theory of government," in which one side expands while the other portion is constricted.
"The history of presidential power is one of steady, if often times uneven, growth over the past 200 years," Riley said. Past presidents like Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln have redefined the role and authority of the office.
Riley conceded that in times of crisis, Congress has traditionally debated, deliberated, and delegated more power to the executive branch with the hope that the issue will be properly addressed.
In the wake of the attacks of Sept. 11, for example, the Bush presidency and the Congress took aggressive action to search out and destroy those who were deemed responsible for the loss of nearly 3,000 lives.
Congress passed a series of legislation, including the Patriot Act and the Detainee Treatment Act, which allocated a broad range of power to the executive branch in the inquisition of guilty terrorist regimes.
Congress has traditionally retained the "power of the purse," meaning the legislative branch has the ability to control and appropriate government funds. However, in recent years, Congress seems to be more financially submissive to the president.
In 2002, Congress apportioned $249 billion for defense and by 2004, the price tag grew to $454 billion. The defense budget the Bush administration presented to Congress in February of 2008 was an estimated $730 billion.
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