By Christos D. Strubakos*
While the contours of expanding presidential authority are the subject of much scholarship, the source of this expansion remains unexplored from a socio-psychological perspective. Many have approached this topic by analyzing Supreme Court jurisprudence or political dynamics, but few have considered what, if any, socio-psychological forces explain the President’s growing powers. Presidential approval ratings tend to soar following major national events, suggesting a profound psychological relationship between the American people and the President. This Article posits that accumulation of power in the Executive is an inherently psychological phenomenon rooted in human nature and constitutional principles. Although designed to curtail power, shared interests between the government and the people activated psychological forces that incited presidential power to evolve beyond the Constitution’s intent. An analysis of The Federalist papers indicates that the Framers understood these societal mechanisms and collective psychological forces. Moreover, due to heroization of political figures and increasingly diverse interests, the President receives significant public attention, leading to a greater concentration of power. This Article concludes by suggesting that a shift in the psycho-political emphasis from national to local governance will help realign the Framers’ vision of a community of interest between the government and the governed.