What if the Executive branch was not one person (President, Governor, etc) but many?

[Taverner]

What if the Executive Branch of our government was not a President at the National level or a Governor on the State level - but a board - which had to reach consensus?

[SidneyCarton]

1. A multiple person executive would spend more time scheming against each other

than governing.

[Taverner]

4. How do we know this?

Have we proven this?

Do you have any examples of statehood collapsing under elected junta control (which is what it would be)

[SidneyCarton]

16. Elected Juntas?

Off the top of my head no. The founders, and most political thinkers of the 18th century (Hobbes and Locke among others) rejected it as oligarchies that were admittedly, unelected proved both unstable and indecisive.

I might point toward late Republican Rome, and the Kingdom of Poland, where the nobles of the Duma held power and deliberated themselves out of a nation.

[Taverner]

17. Think about equally balanced Legislative - Executive - Judicial

How could that be a bad thing?

[SidneyCarton]

20. Have we really ever had that though?

Each branch has experienced "mission creep" as they have usurped the powers of the other. The Judiciary and the Executive seeks to legislate, the Legislative and Executive seek to interpret and the Legislative and Judiciary both covet enforcing the law. In the end this nothing a round of impeachments of Presidents, Supreme Court Justices and a removal of a number of incumbent legislators wouldn't fix. The problem is getting the electorate behind this, to elect legislators with more loyalty to their constituents than their lobbyists, and then use them to reassert the boundaries between the branches of government.

[bkcc]

2. Government would get even less done.

[ThomWV]

3. What do you think the Cabinet level offices are?

You see, if you believe that the Agencies are subservent to the President then you are in truth supporting the notion of the Unitary Executive. Test what you are saying by asking yourself this, can the Attorney General prosecute a case the President orders him not to?

[Taverner]

6. Bush changed A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS

And from Nixon->Bush the Unitary Executive pretty much became the standard.

What if we codified this into a perfect example?

[ThomWV]

12. Bush broke a lot of laws, but he didn't change anything

[Taverner]

13. Legal Precedent

Once precedent is set, its hard to go back...

[xchrom]

5. design by consensus or governing by consensus --

:puke:

when you get elected -- have the where withal to GOVERN.

[BlooInBloo]

7. What if you read the Federalist papers?

[KamaAina]

8. New Hampshire has something similar with its Executive Council

the Governor up there can't really do very much without the consent of the 5-member panel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Council_of_New_Hampshire

The Executive Council of the State of New Hampshire (commonly known as the Governor's Council) is the executive body of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The Executive Council advises the Governor on all matters and provides a check on the governor's power. New Hampshire is one of the few states which has an Executive Council, and is the state whose council has the most power.(citation needed) While the Governor retains the right to veto legislation passed by the New Hampshire General Court, and commands the New Hampshire National Guard, the Council has veto power over pardons, contracts with a value greater than $5,000, and nominations. The Executive Council Chambers have been located in the New Hampshire State House since the chambers were added to the capitol in 1909.

[Taverner]

10. That may not be a bad idea

Even cities have a city council, which can overrule the Mayor in most cases

[sandnsea]

9. The Senate, the House, the Executive, the Supreme Court

We have a board. A HUGE board. Reaching consensus is called politics.

[abumbyanyothername]

11. The executive branch is many

by far the most populated branch of government.

If the decision making authority were to be vested in a committee it would probably weaken the elected aspect of the executive and strengthen the bureaucratic levels of the executive branch.

[KamaAina]

14. Wait a minute. You're in Kolly-four-knee-ya, right?

Is there a method to your madness, by any chance? (i.e. 5 brains on a council > 0 brains with Ahh-nuld)

Oh, and guess who's speaking to someone up there about a job, in social services no less, on Friday? Clearly, no one in his right mind... :P

[Taverner]

15. That is, indeed, what got me there...

With an Executive branch like Arnold, who needs serial killers?

[KamaAina]

18. "Hasta la vista, Cali!"

:grr: :banghead: :argh: :nuke:

[Taverner]

19. Yes, that is our "Ford to New York: Drop Dead" moment