The President of the United States is commonly considered the most powerful man in the world. The president is the leader of the country with the world's largest economy, commander and leader of the world's most powerful military, and has command authority over the world's largest active nuclear arsenal. However, his power is not unlimited. Throughout U.S. history, some presidents have attempted to go beyond the powers given to them. Most of these attempts ended in scandal. Whether these actions are for the good of the nation or for personal gain, the laws must be respected. Otherwise, the United States would become the same tyrannical government that our ancestors fought to escape. In 1620, the Mayflower landed in what is now the United States. The Mayflower carried Puritans and Separatists, also known as Pilgrims, who wanted to seek religious freedom from the King of Great Britain. By sailing to America or the New World, pilgrims could practice their religion without government interference. After the Pilgrims colonized the new world and established trade, the King of England realized how profitable America could be. The king began to impose laws and taxes on the colonies. Every law and tax was put in place for the benefit of Britain, not the colonies. Additionally, the colonies were taxed without representation. Britain could pass any law or tax without the consent of the colonies. This ultimately led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which in turn led to the American Revolution. After gaining independence from Great Britain, the colonies created a constitution that is still the governing document of the United States. It was formed to enable...... middle of paper ......es of its administration. In investigating a scandal, officials came to ask two important questions: "What did the president know?" and “When did he know?” Whether informed or not, the president must always be held accountable. If laws prevent the president from carrying out his duties, he must work with other elected officials to change or repeal the laws. Even the president cannot break the law and to do so is to undermine the very existence of the United States Constitution. Several presidents have been involved in scandals. Some of these scandals have caused the American people to lose confidence in their government. Other scandals pushed the United States to the brink of nuclear war. The law must be respected at all costs. The only way to prevent future scandals is to always hold individuals accountable for their actions..