La Théorie de l'exécutif unitaire, ou théorie unitariste, est une théorie constitutionnelle américaine qui propose une nouvelle lecture de la constitution des États-Unis ; notamment de l'Article II traitant des dispositions du pouvoir exécutif. Elle se base ainsi sur une interprétation présidentielle de la première et troisième clause de l'Article II, soit respectivement la Vesting Clause et la Take Care Clause. Cette lecture « textualiste » de la constitution prône l'idée d'un total contrôle de la branche exécutive par le pouvoir présidentiel, sans que le Congrès puisse interférer avec les décisions de ce dernier ; ce qui diminue l'influence législative sur l'administration au profit de l'influence exécutive. (fr)
The unitary executive theory is a theory of United States constitutional law which holds that the President of the United States possesses the power to control the entire federal executive branch. The doctrine is rooted in Article Two of the United States Constitution, which vests "the executive power" of the United States in the President. Although that general principle is widely accepted, there is disagreement about the strength and scope of the doctrine. It can be said that some favor a "strongly unitary" executive, while others favor a "weakly unitary" executive. The former group argue, for example, that Congress's power to interfere with intra-executive decision-making (such as firing executive branch officials) is limited, and that the President can control policy-making by all executive agencies within the limits set for those agencies by Congress. Still others agree that the Constitution requires a unitary executive, but believe this to be harmful, and propose its abolition by constitutional amendment. Plural executives exist in several states where, in contrast to the federal government, executive officers such as lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, secretary of state, and others, are elected independently of the state's governor. The Executive Branch of the Texan state government is a textbook example of this type of executive structure. However, only the State of North Carolina maintains a plural executive whereby the Chief Executive's actions can be curbed by other elected executive officers. The group of North Carolina executive officers is known as the North Carolina Council of State and it wields fair amounts of statutory powers when approving monetary and property transactions by the state government. This type of plural executive, used in Japan, Israel, and Sweden is one in which a collegial body composes the executive branch – however, that collegial body does not comprise multiple members elected in elections, but is rather more akin to the US Cabinet or UK Cabinet in formation and structure. (en)
La Théorie de l'exécutif unitaire, ou théorie unitariste, est une théorie constitutionnelle américaine qui propose une nouvelle lecture de la constitution des États-Unis ; notamment de l'Article II traitant des dispositions du pouvoir exécutif. Elle se base ainsi sur une interprétation présidentielle de la première et troisième clause de l'Article II, soit respectivement la Vesting Clause et la Take Care Clause. Cette lecture « textualiste » de la constitution prône l'idée d'un total contrôle de la branche exécutive par le pouvoir présidentiel, sans que le Congrès puisse interférer avec les décisions de ce dernier ; ce qui diminue l'influence législative sur l'administration au profit de l'influence exécutive. (fr)
The unitary executive theory is a theory of United States constitutional law which holds that the President of the United States possesses the power to control the entire federal executive branch. The doctrine is rooted in Article Two of the United States Constitution, which vests "the executive power" of the United States in the President. Although that general principle is widely accepted, there is disagreement about the strength and scope of the doctrine. It can be said that some favor a "strongly unitary" executive, while others favor a "weakly unitary" executive. The former group argue, for example, that Congress's power to interfere with intra-executive decision-making (such as firing executive branch officials) is limited, and that the President can control policy-making by all exe (en)