Editor's note: Julian E. Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. He is the co-editor of "Rightward Bound: Making America Conservative in the 1970s" and is completing a book on the history of national-security politics since World War II, to be published by Basic Books. Zelizer writes widely on current events. Julian Zelizer says Obama and Congress must decide whether to rein in presidential power. PRINCETON, New Jersey (CNN) -- Executive power has been one of the defining characteristics of President George W. Bush's administration. President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and many members of the White House pushed to expand executive power -- as much as any specific domestic or foreign policy -- from the beginning of the administration.
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Julian Zelizer: Bush administration sought to rebuild presidential power
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He says they wanted to reverse Watergate-inspired reforms from the 1970s
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Zelizer says Congress' role was diminished during the Bush administration
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He says Obama, Congress must decide whether to strengthen legislative role
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The @placeholder administration thought vesting Congress with so much power was dangerous, because it saw the legislative branch as inefficient.
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For example, as a way to agree to legislation without agreeing to follow the intention of Congress, @placeholder issued statements when he signed bills -- doing so far more frequently than preceding presidents.
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When Congress passed a bill banning the use of torture in December 2005, @placeholder added a signing statement allowing him to bypass the law in his role as Commander-in-Chief.
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@placeholder also used executive orders to achieve policy objectives without obtaining congressional consent.
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But though Obama has promised to reverse a number of executive decisions made by @placeholder, it is hard to tell how far he will go.
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At a minimum, @placeholder should avoid the techniques used so often in recent years to circumvent legislative will.