Part 2/8:

The testimony began with a historical overview of the executive powers vested in the presidency by the U.S. Constitution. Originally, early presidents, such as George Washington, operated with a modest cabinet and exercised executive powers through a handful of trusted advisors. In stark contrast, the modern presidency oversees a vast executive branch comprising 15 cabinet departments and a workforce of approximately 4 million employees. This growth of executive power has a singular source of legitimacy: the election of the president by the American populace, as mandated by Article II of the Constitution.

## The Significance of the Presidential Signature