THE UNITARY EXECUTIVE IN THE AGE OF AMERICAN AUTHORITARIANISM

The legal theory on which the draft executive order relied is most closely associated with what we call "strong unitarianism." Proponents of this view of presidential power conclude that, pursuant to the Article II Vesting Clause, the president has the power to dirept and remove subordinates. They also argue that the president has the amorphous implied power to advance critical national interests, even without statutory authorization. Here, the authors briefly describe the Limited Unitarian theory of presidential power. Beginning with the text of Article II, the Vesting Clause makes clear that executive power is conferred only upon "a President." The remainder of Article II elucidates and limits the power granted to the president.