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Mr. Madison, whose adverse opinion in the Federalist had been relied
upon by those who denied the exclusive power, now participated in the
debate. He declared that he had reviewed his former opinions, and he
summed up the whole case as follows:
The Constitution affirms that the executive power is vested in the
President. Are there exceptions to this proposition? Yes; there are.
The Constitution says that in appointing to office the Senate shall be
associated with the President, unless in the case of inferior officers,
when the law shall otherwise direct. Have we (that is, Congress) a
right to extend this exception? I believe not. If the Constitution has
invested all executive power in the President, I venture to assert
that the Legislature has no right to diminish or modify his executive
authority. The question now resolves itself into this: Is the power of
displacing an executive power? I conceive that if any power whatsoever
is in the Executive it is the power of appointing, overseeing, and
controlling those who execute the laws.


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