The United States Constitution was meant to prevent a single person from having too much power, Charles Savage, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist from The Boston Globe, said in his Monday afternoon lecture in the Student Cinema.

Savage’s recent book concerning the expansion of presidential power in the United States was the topic of the University Scholars forum, and he focused on presidential-signing statements.

He said his book, entitled Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy, is a nonpartisan account of the effectiveness of the system of checks and balances in executive branch. He discussed the power growing in the hands of one or a few.

“It’s kind of a scary thought to think that such a small entity would have so much power, especially when that’s not how our government was set up,” Jennie Lanning, a sophomore in communication who attended the forum, said.

Savage said he went to law school for a year before he began reporting on government issues in Washington, D.C. It was then that he decided the issue of the expansion of presidential power in the United States government.

“It’s too big of a topic to cover in a newspaper story,” Savage said.

While Savage said the system of checks and balances is typically challenged in war time, there have been “extraordinary changes” in the past seven years. And the changes were in motion before 9/11.

In a meeting in January 2001 of the new executive office, Savage said, Alberto Gonzalez, former U.S. Attorney General, suggested the office “seek out opportunities to expand presidential power.”

Savage said he was able to find an eyewitness to confirm Gonzalez’ statements.

“It takes time,” Savage said, of his experience with making contacts and finding sources within the top tiers of government.

He said it takes meeting people and becoming “a human being” to government officials and sources at times other than when he needs something or wants to find information. But, he said this can be dangerous because it is typical to become sympathetic to the views and opinions of sources.

In the book and in his Monday afternoon lecture, Savage discussed the prevalence of presidential-signing statements and the “wall of secrecy” around the executive branch of government.

“With those statements and everything, [Bush] can completely change laws with the wave of his hand,” Lanning said.

She said she had learned about the statements in her political science class.

Nelly O’Hearn, a sophomore in nutrition, said Savage’s topics — including signing statements — were surprising to her.

“I didn’t realize the president had that much power,” she said. “I guess I was uninformed.”

In writing Takeover, Savage said he tried to simplify legal and government terms for readers.

“I hope that this book and my articles have helped people understand what’s happening,” Savage said.