Historical event
The executive branch of the US has, in the past, faced historical events that have entirely change its nature, functions, and capabilities. They include the President’s impeachment, the collapse of financial stocks, and many more not mentioned. The events shaped the US government, prompting them to learn from such events and move on swiftly. The executive branch of the US government is not perfect and has been under constant criticism. They only serve as a learning ground for the nation to enact a more favorable policy and move on with its business. The paper draws into Watergate scandal events that shaped the executive branch’s nature and capabilities, explaining how and why it changed its outlook.
Historical event
Watergate stands out as one unique historical event that shaped the US executive branch’s nature and capabilities. The event occurred a long time ago, but its impacts are still significant. And will continue to ring in the minds of many US citizens for many decades to come. The event that started in June 1972 pictured the then US President Nixon to be involved in the scandal (Honders, 2018). After the break-in of the democratic national committee headquarters, investigations were carried, leading to exposure of the rot within President Nixon’s government and several counts of abuse of power. The men who had carried the break-in stole secret papers and listened to phone lines. They were later caught, and it emerged that Nixon was involved in covering them up and might have even hired them to carry the mission.
Several top government officials were found to be involved in the terrible act of Watergate. With 69 of them being charged, leading 48 of them to be found guilty. John Mitchell, the attorney general at the time, was found guilty (Genovese, 2020). He later resigned and directed the committee concerned with the re-election of the President. The scandal lasted for a period of 3years from 1972 to 1974, Forcing the then President Nixon to resign from his position. The Watergate scandal captured the attention of the whole world.
These events led to the executive branch’s nature changing; many laws were enacted to curb such occurrences from happening again. They include laws targeting financial disclosure, ethics, and many more, including special prosecutors’ creation when the need arose. The reports showed the CIA intelligence violating its charter that involved protecting its citizens, but it targeted its citizens in the case of Watergate (Roady, 2020). Some of those involved in the Watergate were former members of the CIA. It was also revealed the CIA had a hand in helping them carry out their burglary. In reducing such happenings, a special body was created by US Congress to carry out oversight in both the house and the senate. The particular body is known as Permanent intelligence oversight committees.
The introduction of a permanent intelligence oversight committee ensured that the nature of the executive branch was changing. After the events at the Watergate, it was noticed that the executive branch had failed its mandate. There was a need to keep it in check. The formation of Congress’s oversight body to keep the executive branch in check influenced nature’s change. Now its operations were not to be secretive but open to all. Such changes ensured a new role and nature of outlook for the executive.
The Watergate events also led to a reduction in the capabilities of the executive. The executive branch was denied several powers, which included that of the President is above the law. The executive branch of the US had continued amassing a lot of powers until the event. The court ruled in favor of reducing the executive powers, basing its reasoning that exercise of power would be a fair administration.
The Supreme Court revealed that no one was above the law, not even the United States president. The court denied Nixon’s quest for executive privilege. Watergate’s events led to curbing the executive power that has continued to play a significant role until today (Van Belle, 2016). Since then, no one is considered above the law, and who dares commits a mistake are held accountable.
Watergate revealed to the world that corruption in the executive branch had become so powerful. There was then a necessity to curb their powers and ensure the people’s ruling was fair, Prompting the court to rule to reduce the powers of the executive branch. The presidential powers still were within the limits of the constitution and were never in any way meant to be above the law.
Conclusion
The Watergate scandal was instrumental in shaping the nature and capabilities of the executive branch of the US government. Its events that lasted for over two years brought out the government’s weakness that needed to be addressed. Shaping up the executive branch was one of the reforms that characterized the scandal.