Constitutional law

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In my constitutional law class, we discussed the constitutional formation of the three branches of government, particularly the executive branch. Considering the fact that we give our president power of over our military, the professor asked the class what would prevent the president from becoming a king.My answer to this question was simple and very American: The constitution is set up with the main purposes of preventing a rebirth of the monarchy.

There are several provisions embedded into the constitution that are meant to limit the power wielded by the executive. For example, The President has no power of the purse nor does he have power of the pen, so he does not decide what the laws is, but is only responsible for their execution. Also, unlike the king, the president is liable to be impeached, tried, removed from office, whereas the king no matter what his actions entail is inviolable.

The president is also limited in terms of his selection and terms of service. Unlike the king, who is hereditary in nature the president is elected into office by an electorate. Also unlike a king who holds his position for life the president of the United States is restricted to four-year terms. In addition to all of these reasons, the American people will probably burn the country to ashes first, 

Here is a link Federalist Paper 69 which details the presidency http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa69.htm.