How much Executive Power is too much?

In a democracy, the balance of power is essential—but what happens when the scales begin to tip? In this PBS special, How Much Executive Power Is Too Much?, we explore one of the most pressing questions in American government today: how much authority should be concentrated in the hands of a single individual?

Through in-depth interviews with constitutional scholars, historians, former government officials, and journalists, this program traces the evolution of executive power from the founding of the United States to the modern presidency. From wartime expansions and emergency declarations to executive orders and national security prerogatives, we examine the historical context, legal frameworks, and political consequences of growing presidential authority.

As partisan divides deepen and public trust in institutions shifts, How Much Executive Power Is Too Much? challenges viewers to consider the limits of leadership in a constitutional republic—and the role each branch of government must play in upholding democracy.

Join us as we ask: Where should power stop—and who decides?

Public Broadcasting System