The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-03-02
A PRESIDENTS POWERS.
Are Far Greater in the United States
than They Are in France

I
States, is said not to have made
known his selection to the members
Of his cabinet until after the nomi-
nation had been sent to the Senate.
The cabinet ministers learned of his
choice only after the formal au-
nouncement had been made.
In acting thus entirely upon his
own counsel, the pr sident did not
exceed his constitutional powers.
nor do otherwise than has before
been done by presidents of the Uuit-
ed States in the making of import
ant nominations.
This occurrence illustrated the
difference between the usage Of our
own and almost every other consti-
tutional country. The personal pow
er exercised by the president Of the
United States is much greater than
any that may DO lawfully exercised
by the president of the French re-
public or by the queen Of England.
Neither OF these functionaries
would venture to appoint even the
magistrate OF an inferior court with
out the consent Of the minister Of
justice; and il the minister's advice
in such case We're not needed, a
ministerial crisis, to be settled only
by the vote Of parliament, would be
involved.
The case OF the nomination OF the
chief justice ia only an incident 10
the exercise Of tho American pre-
sideut's power. A president dsvotes
much time to the examination OF
the bills passed 10y the Congress.
Reports are sent to him with each
bill, recording the deliberations in
Congress with regard to it, aud con-
tanning, when practicable, the facts
and data upon which the action of
Congress was taken.
The president then makes his de.
cision upon each bill. Such acts as
he does not approve he "Vetoes y
that is, he returns them to congress
with his objections; and these facts
cannot then become laws except 10y
a majority Of two thirds Of each
house-a majority which is obtainC d
only in exceptional cases.
With us, then, What is virtually
tho final fate Of every measure
adopted 10y house chosen 10y uni
vcrsal suffrage lies in tho hands of
functionary elected at one remote
from tho people.
la France the president is elected
/ by the two houses Of parliament sit
ting rs one body. The French pres
dent, according TO the Youths Com
pauiou, has no such powers "a those
which we have noted as belonging
TO the president Of the United States.
He promulgates the laws passed by
the chambers, but may not veto
them. Hs disposes Of the armed
forces oil the country, but only in
harmony with the wishes Of minis
tiers, who represent the majority in
tho chamber OF deputies. He APP
points all functionaries and officers,
but only on the present alton OF tho
different cabinet ministers. He ap.
points these ministers, il is true, but
they are not responsible 10 him, but
only to the chambers.
I he president OF France is, ic fact,
chiefly figure. head, or at the most
a balance-wheel, for the nation, per-
forming much the same function as
the monarch OF purely constitu-
tional country like England or Italy.
He is elected for seven years, but he
cannot maintain his position against
an overwhelming hostile sentiment
in parliament.
1t would not do, however, to as
sumo, because the president OF the
United States possesses SO much
greater powers than the president
OF the French republic, that the
United States is a more despotic
county than France.
Though the personal power OF
the French president is small, the
authority Of the central government
itself is much more extended, and
much more despotically used, than
that OF the United States.
Many OF the institutions OF that
country are monarchical in origin
aud in spirit. The central govern
ment arrogates to itself powers which
in this country are exercised by at ates,
counties, cities, and towns. The ad-
ministrative machinery OF the small
est French villages is set in motion
by the government at Paris.
Though the personal powers Of
the French president are SO much
less than those Of our own presi-
dent, he is paid much larger salary.
He receives $4,000 year and CON
siderable allowances, and is given
the palace OF the Elysee for resi-